An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'end up', with lots of examples in context
Photo: Pexels
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs where I explain their different meanings to help you understand, learn and use them.
In this post, I will be covering the super duper common phrasal verb 'end up'. This is a phrasal verb that I hear being used all the time in everyday English by native speakers and the good news is that it only has one core meaning. To make things easier however, I have split the meanings into two subcategories in the post to help you to grasp the different ways that it is used. Additionally, I have also included a third section, detailing different prepositions that often follow 'end up' as using these will make your English sound nice and natural. So, without further ado, let's make a start. Remember to share your own sentences using 'end up' in the comments section at the end. 😊
END UP: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 2 |
Past tense forms | Ended up / Ended up |
Separable? | No |
Photo: Pexels
THE BASICS
To begin our exploration of the phrasal verb 'end up', let's first consider the words 'end' and 'up' and what they mean on their own.
Our main verb in this post is 'to end', which is a common English verb that is used as a synonym of 'to finish' or 'to stop' and is used to indicate when something concludes. 'To end' is a regular verb and can be used both in a transitive way (with a direct object) and an intransitive way (without a direct object). Interestingly, it is rarely found in other phrasal verbs besides 'end up'.
My ex-partner and I decided to end our relationship.
The football match ended in a goalless draw.
What time does the event end tonight?
Next, we have the prepositional particle 'up', which I know you are all very familiar with. 'Up' is typically used as a preposition and adverb to describe movement in an upwards direction or being situated in a higher position relative to something else. 'Up' is widely used in phrasal verbs, including some of the most commonly used ones, like this one, and it can add different nuances to the main verb, including movement to a higher place, preparation, closure and perhaps most relevantly for this post, completion.
So, now that we have considered the basics, let's move on to the different meanings of the phrasal verb 'end up'....
MEANING 1: To finish a journey or activity somewhere
Photo: Pexels
CEFR Language Level | B1 - Intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To finish, to end, to wind up |
Separable? | No |
As I mentioned at the beginning, there is really only one meaning of 'end up' in English, however it is used in many different ways and scenarios. Consequently, to make things easier for you to process all of the information, I have divided this post into two separate sections and this first sub-meaning is 'to finish a journey or activity somewhere'.
Situations in which you may hear this sub-usage of 'end up'
|
Since this sub-usage is all to do with movement or travelling, it will come as no big surprise to you that we use it to talk about the specific places and locations that an activity finishes. As such, you will hear it being used with prepositions of place such as 'in' and 'at', as well as proper nouns for specific places etc.
One such activity with which we use 'end up' in this way is travelling, particularly when it involves going to multiple cities or countries, to specify the final destination of the traveller's journey. Furthermore, you can also use it when talking about a series of activities that involve going from location to location within a specific city or area, for example a walking tour of a city or a bachelor / stag party that visits many different pubs and bars.
We are planning on driving down the west coast and ending up in Los Angeles on the final day of our trip.
After backpacking across Europe for a month, they ended up in a small coastal town in Greece, where they decided to stay for a few extra days.
We are going to go to several museums today and we plan to end up in the Louvre.
Whilst it is likely that you will hear 'end up' being used in this way if you have native English speaker friends who enjoy travelling, you should note that it is much more common to hear it being used when you go somewhere unplanned (or at least somewhere unplanned at a point in the past when you last spoke to that person).
Moreover, it is frequently heard when someone's plans changed in some way and they went somewhere that they had not originally intended. This can be either short term or long term plans, including where someone eventually lives or even when someone goes to jail.
They ended up in Paris for their vacation instead of Rome.
John always wanted to move to France but he ended up in Scotland.
He'll end up in prison if he's not careful.
Sometimes, we use it when when we go somewhere as a result of something unexpected happening, e.g. if you planned to go to the beach but your son broke his arm, you would have to go to hospital instead. In this case, we would be likely to say that we "ended up at the hospital" as it was not intended or planned.
Helen ended up in the emergency room after slipping on the ice.
I ended up in London as the shop that we went to in Oxford had sold out of the shoes that I wanted to buy.
Alternatively, it is equally used to describe when you go somewhere that you hadn't planned to go to after going somewhere that you had planned to go to. For example, if you went for a quiet drink with a friend and after a few glasses of wine, you decide to go dancing in a nightclub, you would tell people the next day that you "met your friend for a drink and then ended up in a nightclub". We've all done it! 😉
He ended up at his friend’s house after the party.
Lastly, it could simply also be used to describe a time when you found yourself somewhere by accident, perhaps as a result of getting lost or making a mistake.
We got lost in the city and somehow ended up back at our hotel.
How did we end up here? Did we take a wrong turn?
MEANING 2: To do or become something that you had not intended
Photo: Pexels
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To end, to go, to wind up, to become, to turn out to be |
Separable? | No |
Now, let's move on to the second sub-meaning of 'end up', which is 'to do or become something that you had not intended'.
In contrast to the previous meaning, we use this one primarily to refer to things that happen in the long term and this is usually when referring to what happens to someone in their life as they grow up or after we lose contact with them. Typically, this is followed by a noun or an adjective, however there are several other prepositions that also follow this, which I will explain to you in the next section.
John ended up a policeman, which is strange as he was always in trouble at school.
Martin ended up poor and homeless after the collapse of his business.
We can also use this particular sub-usage for when we want to predict what we think someone will be or do in the future.
If you eat all of your vegetables, you will end up big and strong like your Dad!
I think he will end up dead before long if he can't quit taking drugs.
In addition to people, we do also use 'end up' in this way to talk about objects and things....
Don't leave your clothes next to the shower or they will end up wet.
My last skateboard ended up broken after a car ran over it.
Let's now move on to the next section, where I will explain to you how to really refine and develop these different uses of 'end up' so that your English sounds top notch (excellent)....
DIFFERENT WAYS OF FOLLOWING 'END UP'....
Photo: Pexels
With both of the above sub-usages of 'end up' that I have explained, although you will hear them used in the ways that I have explained above, I think you are perhaps more likely to hear them with a gerund or other specific prepositions. So, the next section will focus on these and if you can memorise these and use them, it will definitely elevate your English...
WITH A GERUND
When the phrasal verb 'end up' is followed by a verb to describe an action, the verb must be in the gerund form rather than the infinitive. Native speakers use it this way all the time and so if you want to sound more natural when you speak, then definitely do this too!
To clarify, we use a gerund after 'end up' when we want to specify the outcome of an action or the conclusion of a series of events. As with the previous meanings, this is used particularly often when the action or conclusion is not one that was expected or anticipated. In these cases, the gerund represents the final action that takes place, rather than a specific location. In addition to an unexpected outcome, we use 'end up' + a gerund when the result of something is surprising, accidental or even unavoidable in some cases (see the last example below).
We ended up staying at the hotel because the campsite was full.
She ended up working late after an unexpected meeting.
He ended up sleeping on the couch because the bed was too small.
Thanks to the government's new corporation tax increases, we are going to end up losing money.
Roger and Lisa argued so much that they ended up breaking up
TO END UP LIKE
We use the expression 'to end up like' + a noun when we want to compare a final state or outcome to another situation or person. It is often used in a negative way as a mild threat, to imply that someone or something will reach the same undesirable outcome as the person or situation being referred to. In other words, we are using a bad example of something to try and stop a future potential outcome from happening. Other times, it can also be used to communicate your own fears about yourself and something that you want to avoid in the future.
If you don't start studying for your exams, you'll end up like your father and won't have any qualifications.
If you don’t take your job seriously, you might end up like those people who struggle to find work.
I hope I don’t end up like my old boss, stressed out all the time.
TO END UP AS
Another word that frequently follows 'end up' is the preposition 'as' and we use the construction 'to end up' + as to talk about a person's final identity or role after a series of events or a career progression. It could also be used to describe the outcome of a process, in which one thing changes to another.
He wanted to be a musician, but he ended up as an accountant.
If you want to end up as a doctor, you will need to study very hard.
The debate ended up as a heated argument, despite having started very calmly.
The book she wrote ended up as a bestseller, which surprised everyone.
Sam thought the building would be demolished, but it ended up as a museum.
TO END UP WITH
The last word that we are going to consider in conjunction with 'end up' is 'with'. We use the construction 'to end up + with' to describe what someone has after a series of events or actions. Moreover, it can also denote the final outcome or situation of something. In all of these situations though, it implies that the person or subject possesses something as a result of the actions or events, whether that be physically or emotionally. It can often be used to refer to health conditions or illnesses that someone gets as a result of something.
Simon ended up with a cold after walking in the rain without an umbrella.
We ended up with extra tickets to the Elton John concert as some of our friends couldn’t come.
Debbie ended up with a broken leg after the skiing accident.
Stacey and Lesley ended up with a beautiful house after years of saving.
Photo: Pexels
We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new. If you enjoyed this post, please go ahead and check out some of my other posts.
Now it is YOUR turn. Can you think of a sentence yourself using 'end up'. Write it in the comments section below if you can, or alternatively any comments, suggestions or feedback that you may have....don't be shy!!!
Sign up on the form below if you want to receive new blog posts directly by email every week as soon as they are published.
Also, if you found the post useful, please like and share it on social media. See you next time! James 😊
THE END
Comments