A conclusion is the end or final part of something, or a decision you reach after thinking carefully about evidence and facts.

When you read a story, the conclusion is where everything wraps up and you find out what happens to the characters. When you write an essay, your conclusion summarizes your main points and leaves your reader with something to think about. A science experiment ends with a conclusion where you explain what your results showed and whether your hypothesis was correct.

The word also means the judgment or decision you arrive at after considering information. If you notice your dog hiding under the bed during a thunderstorm, you might reach the conclusion that she's afraid of loud noises. If a detective finds muddy footprints, a broken window, and an empty jewelry box, she draws the conclusion that someone broke in to steal valuables. Your conclusion is based on thinking logically about what you've observed or learned, using evidence and reasoning to support your judgment.

Sometimes people jump to conclusions when they make up their minds too quickly without enough information. If your friend doesn't wave at you in the hallway, you might jump to the conclusion that she's mad at you, when really she just didn't see you. Good thinkers gather facts first, then carefully draw their conclusions.