conclusion
C1formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
the final part of something; a judgement or decision reached after reasoning
an ending or termination of a process; a settlement or arrangement of a dispute; the summing-up of a speech or text; a proposition that is reached from premises
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can refer to both a temporal endpoint ('the conclusion of the meeting') and an intellectual judgement ('I came to the conclusion that she was right'). The latter sense often collocates with verbs like 'reach', 'draw', and 'come to'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Minor differences in typical phrasings (e.g., 'in conclusion' vs. 'to conclude' may vary in frequency).
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both academic and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
come to the conclusion that + clausedraw a conclusion from + noun phraselead to the conclusion that + clausein conclusion (sentence adverb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “jump to conclusions”
- “a foregone conclusion”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports and meetings to summarise findings and recommend actions. (e.g., 'The conclusion of the audit was that controls need strengthening.')
Academic
Crucial in essays and research papers to summarise arguments and state findings. (e.g., 'The study's conclusion challenges prevailing theories.')
Everyday
Used to talk about ending events or sharing decisions. (e.g., 'At the conclusion of the film, everyone clapped.')
Technical
In logic, a proposition reached from premises. In law, the closing part of a plea or argument.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are hoping to conclude the negotiations by Friday.
- She concluded her speech with a powerful quote.
American English
- We need to conclude this deal before the quarter ends.
- The investigator concluded that the evidence was insufficient.
adverb
British English
- The report was conclusively disproven.
- She argued her point conclusively.
American English
- The data conclusively supports our hypothesis.
- The match was conclusively won in the final set.
adjective
British English
- The concluding remarks were unexpectedly brief.
- We are in the conclusive stages of the project.
American English
- The concluding chapter ties all the plotlines together.
- They presented conclusive proof of the theory.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The story had a happy conclusion.
- What is your conclusion?
- In conclusion, I think we should recycle more.
- I came to the conclusion that he was telling the truth.
- The committee's conclusion was that the policy had failed.
- Don't jump to conclusions without all the facts.
- The logical conclusion of his argument was both radical and unsettling.
- From the data, we can draw the inescapable conclusion that climate change is accelerating.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONclude' + 'sION' – the 'sion' sounds like 'decision', and a conclusion is often a final decision.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE JOURNEYS (reaching a conclusion), EVENTS ARE CONTAINERS (at the conclusion of the event)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'conclusion' as 'заключение' in the sense of 'imprisonment'. Use 'вывод' for the 'judgement' sense and 'окончание' or 'конец' for the 'end' sense.
- The phrase 'in conclusion' is a set phrase for summarising; do not translate it word-for-word as 'в заключении' which implies physical location.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'conclusion' with 'about' incorrectly (e.g., 'I made a conclusion about the data' – better: 'I drew a conclusion from the data').
- Confusing 'conclusion' with 'summary' (a summary is a brief restatement, a conclusion is an ending or a judgement).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'foregone conclusion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While common for essays and reports, it also refers to the end of any event, process, or period, and to a judgement or decision reached by reasoning.
They are synonymous transitional phrases used to introduce a final summary. 'In conclusion' is slightly more common in writing; 'to conclude' is often used in speeches.
Yes. You can have 'a conclusion', 'several conclusions', or 'the conclusion'. The uncountable form is less common but possible in phrases like 'a matter for conclusion'.
Yes, this is a standard and formal way to state the final judgement or deduction from an argument or investigation.
Collections
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B1 · 47 words · Basic scientific concepts and modern technology.
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B2 · 49 words · Words for ideas, reasoning and intellectual concepts.
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