conclusion

An idea or judgment you reach after thinking about the information you have.

• What is your conclusion?
• The evidence supports our conclusions.
• She came to the conclusion that someone had lied.

How to use it: the conclusion that… (We reached the conclusion that the plan would fail.); a conclusion about something (It is too early to draw a conclusion about the cause.)

Similar words: judgment, deduction, inference

Common phrases: draw a conclusion, reach a conclusion, main conclusion, conclusion that something

The end or final part of something.

• The story has a surprising conclusion.
• She thanked the audience at the conclusion of her speech.
• In conclusion, we need to work together.

How to use it: the conclusion of something (At the conclusion of the meeting, everyone signed the agreement.)

Similar words: end, ending, close

Opposites: beginning

Common phrases: in conclusion, at the conclusion, conclusion of something, brief conclusion

The final result of an action or process.

• The talks reached a successful conclusion.
• We hope for a satisfactory conclusion to the dispute.
• Months of negotiation finally produced a peaceful conclusion.

How to use it: bring something to a conclusion (The agreement brought the dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.)

Similar words: outcome, result, resolution

Common phrases: successful conclusion, satisfactory conclusion, bring to conclusion