An ending is the final part of something: the last chapter of a book, the conclusion of a movie, or the moment when a game finishes. Every story, song, journey, or event has to end somewhere, and that point is its ending.

Some endings feel satisfying because they resolve what came before. When you finish a mystery novel and discover who committed the crime, that's a satisfying ending. Other endings leave you surprised, like when a movie reveals an unexpected twist in its final scene. Some endings feel sad, like the last day of summer camp, while others feel triumphant, like crossing the finish line after a long race.

Writers and storytellers work hard on their endings because a good ending shapes how we remember everything that came before it. A weak ending can disappoint readers even after a great story, while a powerful ending can make an entire book memorable. Think about your favorite movies: chances are, their endings stuck with you.

The word can also be used as a verb to describe something that's in the process of concluding. When the school year is ending, it's in those final weeks before summer. When a friendship is ending, it's coming to a close. Sometimes people talk about a happy ending or a tragic ending, describing not just that something finished, but how it finished and what that meant to everyone involved.