Terminate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt/ (verb) /ˈtər-mə-nət/ (adjective) ter·mi·nate

Meaning & Definition of Terminate

Terminate (verb)

  1. to form an ending
  2. to come to an end in time
  3. to extend only to a limit (such as a point or line); especially, to reach a terminus

Terminate (adjective)

  1. coming to an end or capable of ending

Terminate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

    "we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning"

    similar: close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up, put paid to (chiefly British), ring down the curtain (on)
    related: climax, crown, consummate, perfect, halt, stop, suspend
    opposite: begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

  2. to come to an end

    "this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  3. to mark the limits of

    "terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens"

    similar: bound, circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, limit, mark (off)
    related: control, determine, govern, delineate, describe

  4. to put to death deliberately

    "the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition"

    similar: assassinate, bump off, croak (slang), dispatch, do in, execute, get, ice (slang), knock off, liquidate, murder, neutralize, off (slang), put away, rub out, slay, snuff, take out, whack (slang), do away with
    related: blow away, shoot, shoot down, blot out, carry off, claim, cut down, destroy, fell, kill, smite, zap, butcher, massacre, mow (down), slaughter, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, wipe out
    near: animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive

  5. to let go from office, service, or employment

    "he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late"

    similar: ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, turn off, send packing, show (someone) the door
    related: downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
    opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
    near: keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

Terminate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in replaceable, terminable

    similar: replaceable, terminable, conditional, contingent, limited, qualified, short-range, tentative, ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, short-lived, transitory, intermediary, intermediate, transitional, expedient, improvised, makeshift, alternate, proxy, substitute, acting, ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term, temporary
    opposite: long-term, permanent, final, fixed, set, settled, unconditional, unlimited, unqualified, extended, lasting, long-range, standing, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Terminate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Terminate:

Slang: croak, ice, off, whack
Chiefly British: put paid to
close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up, break off, break up, cease, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, expire, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, wink (out), bound, circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, limit, mark (off), assassinate, bump off, dispatch, do in, execute

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Terminate

Words with the opposite meaning of Terminate:

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, continue, hang on, persist, employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on, long-term, permanent, final, fixed, set, settled, unconditional, unlimited, unqualified, extended, lasting, long-range, standing, dateless, deathless, endless

Related Words for Terminate

climax, crown, consummate, perfect, suspend, desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, abate, peter (out), wind down, control, govern, delineate, describe, blow away, shoot, shoot down, blot out, carry off, claim, cut down

Near Antonyms of Terminate

draw out, extend, prolong, protract, animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

Word Forms of Terminate

Inflections: terminated, terminating

Origin & Etymology of Terminate

Middle English, from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare, from terminus

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Terminate

Frequently Asked Questions about Terminate

What does "Terminate" mean?

"Terminate" means to form an ending. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to form an ending. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Terminate"?

Other words for "Terminate" include close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out) and wind up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Terminate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Terminate"?

There are 161 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Terminate". Common alternatives include close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up and break off.

What is a slang word for "Terminate"?

Slang words for "Terminate" include croak, ice, off and whack.

What is the opposite of "Terminate"?

Antonyms of "Terminate" include begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, continue, hang on and persist. Near antonyms include draw out, extend, prolong and protract.

How do you use "Terminate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Terminate" in a sentence: "we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning"; "this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day"; "terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens".

Is "Terminate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Terminate" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Terminate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Terminate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.