terminate
gb/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt/ us/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt/
B2
Englisch
~ 10000
befejez, megszüntet, berekeszt, lezár, kirúg, elbocsát, meneszt, lejár, megszűnik, megszakítja a terhességet, leállít, megszakít, végződik, véget ér, likvidál, eltesz valakit láb alól
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
Verwendungsmuster:
to terminate [something]
The company decided to terminate the contract due to repeated delays.
A cég az ismétlődő késések miatt úgy döntött, hogy felmondja a szerződést.
Either party may terminate this agreement with thirty days’ written notice.
Bármelyik fél harmincnapos írásbeli értesítéssel megszüntetheti ezt a megállapodást.
They terminated the project after the trial phase showed poor results.
The landlord can terminate the lease if the rent is not paid on time.
The bank terminated their services after discovering fraudulent activity.
Beispiele für Lernende
The school will terminate the program next year.
Az iskola jövőre megszünteti a programot.
You can terminate the contract if you are not happy with the service.
Felmondhatod a szerződést, ha nem vagy elégedett a szolgáltatással.
The company terminated the lease on their old office.
We decided to terminate the project because it cost too much.
The phone company may terminate your service if you do not pay.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes use "terminate" in everyday casual speech where "end" or "stop" is more natural (e.g., saying *"terminate the movie"* instead of *"stop the movie"*). "Terminate" is usually used for formal or official actions like contracts, services, or projects.
Bedeutung
bring something to an end
Wortverbindungen
terminate a contract
|terminate an agreement
|terminate services
|terminate the project
|terminate the lease
|terminate negotiations
Synonyme
end (More general and common; less formal than "terminate".)
|
stop (More direct and informal; often less official-sounding.)
|
cease (Formal like "terminate", but often used in legal or written notices.)
Antonyme
start (Opposite in time; to begin something rather than bring it to an end.)
|
continue (Opposite in continuity; to keep something going instead of ending it.)
Themen
business
|law
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something stop or end, usually in a formal or official way.
To bring something to an end, especially in a formal, deliberate, or official way.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
2
Verwendungsmuster:
to terminate [someone's] employment / to terminate [someone]
The company terminated three employees after the internal investigation.
Her employment was terminated following repeated policy violations.
He claimed he was wrongfully terminated and filed a lawsuit.
They terminated his contract without giving a clear explanation.
Staff may be terminated for cause if they falsify company records.
Beispiele für Lernende
The firm terminated his employment last month.
She was terminated for breaking company rules.
If you lie on your resume, the company can terminate you.
They terminated several workers because sales were low.
He felt it was unfair that the company terminated his job.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may confuse "terminate" with neutral words like "leave" or "quit". "Terminate" usually describes the employer’s action, not the employee’s choice. Say *"The company terminated her"* (employer action), but *"She quit"* (her own decision).
Bedeutung
dismiss someone from their job
Wortverbindungen
terminate an employee
|terminate his employment
|terminate her employment
|terminated for cause
|wrongfully terminated
|terminate staff
Synonyme
dismiss (Formal; common in HR and legal contexts, similar level of formality to "terminate".)
|
fire (Informal and common in everyday speech; can sound harsher or more emotional.)
Antonyme
hire (Opposite employment action; to give someone a job rather than end it.)
|
retain (To keep an employee instead of letting them go.)
Themen
business
|work
Definition
To officially make someone leave their job.
To formally dismiss someone from their job; to end someone's employment.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Verwendungsmuster:
[something] terminates on/at [time or condition]
This lease terminates on December 31 unless renewed in writing.
Ez a bérleti szerződés december 31-én lejár, hacsak írásban meg nem hosszabbítják.
The insurance policy terminates automatically if premiums are not paid.
A biztosítás automatikusan megszűnik, ha nem fizetik a díjakat.
The agreement will terminate upon completion of the project.
Her visa terminates at the end of the academic year.
The license terminates when the holder dies.
Beispiele für Lernende
The contract terminates at the end of this year.
A szerződés ez év végén lejár.
Your health coverage terminates when you leave the company.
Az egészségbiztosításod megszűnik, amikor kilépsz a cégtől.
The agreement terminates unless both sides sign again.
The lease terminates in June, so we must move.
Her work permit terminates next month.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes use the active pattern *"They terminate on December 31"* when the subject is a person. The verb in this sense is normally used for things like contracts or visas, not people. Say *"The contract terminates on December 31"*, not *"He terminates on December 31"*.
Bedeutung
come to an end officially
Wortverbindungen
agreement terminates on
|lease terminates on
|coverage terminates at
|license terminates upon
|policy terminates when
|contract terminates automatically
Synonyme
expire (Very common in legal and business English for time-limited agreements.)
|
end (More general; not as closely linked to formal or legal contexts as "terminate".)
Antonyme
remain in force (Legal phrase meaning the agreement continues instead of ending.)
Themen
law
|business
|time
Definition
To end by itself at a planned time, especially in a contract or legal document.
Of an agreement, period, or state: to come to an end, especially according to rules or a fixed time.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
Verwendungsmuster:
to terminate [the/a] pregnancy
After careful consideration, she chose to terminate the pregnancy.
Alapos megfontolás után úgy döntött, hogy megszakítja a terhességet.
The law allows women to terminate a pregnancy within the first twelve weeks.
A törvény lehetővé teszi, hogy a nők az első tizenkét hétben megszakítsák a terhességet.
Doctors explained the medical risks before she decided whether to terminate.
Some couples decide to terminate the pregnancy after serious problems are found.
He supported her decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Beispiele für Lernende
She decided to terminate the pregnancy.
Úgy döntött, hogy megszakítja a terhességet.
In some countries, it is legal to terminate a pregnancy.
Egyes országokban törvényes megszakítani a terhességet.
The doctor talked with her before she terminated the pregnancy.
They did not want to terminate the pregnancy.
She was not sure if she should terminate the pregnancy or continue it.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may use very general words like "stop" with "pregnancy" (e.g., *"stop the pregnancy"*), which sounds unnatural. In formal or medical contexts, the usual phrase is "terminate a pregnancy" or "have an abortion".
Bedeutung
end a pregnancy intentionally
Wortverbindungen
terminate the pregnancy
|terminate a pregnancy
|chose to terminate
|medically terminate the pregnancy
|decided to terminate
|right to terminate a pregnancy
Synonyme
abort (Common medical and legal term; can sound more clinical or direct.)
Antonyme
carry to term (Medical phrase meaning to continue the pregnancy until birth.)
Themen
medicine
|law
|social issues
|health
Definition
To make a pregnancy end on purpose, usually with medical help.
To end a pregnancy deliberately, especially by a medical procedure.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
5
Verwendungsmuster:
to terminate [a process/connection/session/program]
If the application freezes, you may need to terminate the process manually.
Ha az alkalmazás lefagy, lehet, hogy kézzel kell leállítanod a folyamatot.
The system will automatically terminate the session after ten minutes of inactivity.
A rendszer tíz perc inaktivitás után automatikusan megszakítja a munkamenetet.
An error occurred and the program was terminated unexpectedly.
Please terminate all active connections before restarting the server.
The script terminates the process if no valid data is received.
Beispiele für Lernende
Click this button to terminate the program.
Kattints erre a gombra, hogy leállítsd a programot.
The computer terminates the session after you log out.
A számítógép kijelentkezés után megszakítja a munkamenetet.
You must terminate all processes before you shut down the server.
The system terminated the connection because the network was lost.
If the app does not respond, you can terminate it in the settings.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse "terminate" with "delete" in computing. "Terminate" means stop something that is running; "delete" means remove a file or data from storage.
Bedeutung
stop a computer process or connection
Wortverbindungen
terminate the process
|terminate the connection
|terminate the session
|force terminate
|terminate with error
|terminate the program
Synonyme
kill (Informal technical slang for forcefully stopping a process.)
|
shut down (Common for closing systems or services; sometimes broader than "terminate".)
Antonyme
launch (To start a program, opposite of stopping it.)
|
initiate (Formal technical term for starting a process or connection.)
Themen
technology
|computing
Definition
In computers, to make a program, process, or connection stop running.
In computing, to stop a program, process, or connection so that it no longer runs or is active.
VERB
B2
6
Verwendungsmuster:
[something] terminates at/in [a place/thing]
The road terminates at the edge of the forest.
Az út az erdő szélénél ér véget.
This train service terminates at Central Station.
Ennek a vonatjáratnak a végállomása a Központi pályaudvar.
Several nerves terminate in the muscles of the hand.
The corridor terminates in a large glass door.
A narrow path terminates at the top of the hill.
Beispiele für Lernende
The bus route terminates at the airport.
A buszjárat a repülőtéren ér véget.
This street terminates at the river.
Ez az utca a folyónál végződik.
The cable terminates in a small metal plug.
The path terminates at a closed gate.
Our tour terminates in the city center.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may think this sense is always very formal, but it is normal in descriptions of roads, routes, or physical structures. However, in everyday conversation, "end" is still more common than "terminate".
Bedeutung
end at a particular place or form
Wortverbindungen
road terminates at
|line terminates in
|path terminates at
|nerve terminates in
|corridor terminates in
|cable terminates in
Synonyme
end (More common and general; can be used in most of the same sentences.)
Antonyme
begin (Opposite direction; where something starts rather than where it ends.)
Themen
space
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop or finish at a certain place or in a certain form.
To end at or in a particular place, structure, or form, especially of roads, lines, or physical structures.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
7
Verwendungsmuster:
to terminate [someone]
In the film, the agent is ordered to locate and terminate the target.
A filmben az ügynök azt a parancsot kapja, hogy találja meg és likvidálja a célpontot.
The crime boss hired a hitman to terminate anyone who talked to the police.
A maffiavezér bérgyilkost fogadott, hogy likvidáljon mindenkit, aki beszélt a rendőrséggel.
The robot was programmed to terminate all human resistance.
He joked that if he was late again, his boss would terminate him, Terminator-style.
The spy refused to terminate the witness and instead helped her escape.
Beispiele für Lernende
In the movie, the robot is sent to terminate the hero.
A filmben a robotot azért küldik, hogy likvidálja a hőst.
The killer was paid to terminate the man.
A gyilkos pénzt kapott, hogy eltegye láb alól a férfit.
The agent did not want to terminate the target.
He used the word "terminate" to mean kill in a dark joke.
The soldiers were told not to terminate anyone who was unarmed.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may not realize this usage is euphemistic or joking and can sound strange or too dramatic in normal situations. It is usually better to use clear words like "kill" in serious descriptions, and avoid this sense in polite conversation.
Bedeutung
kill someone (euphemistic/joking)
Wortverbindungen
ordered to terminate him
|terminate the target
|sent to terminate
|terminate the witness
|agents were told to terminate
|contract to terminate someone
Synonyme
eliminate (Often used in the same euphemistic or crime-related contexts.)
Antonyme
spare (To choose not to kill someone; opposite decision.)
Themen
violence
|media
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To kill a person; used as a joking or soft way to say this, especially in movies or stories.
To kill someone, especially used as a darkly humorous or euphemistic term, often in fiction.
Grammatik
Grundform
terminate
IPA
GB/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt/
US/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt/
Silben & Betonung
ter - min - ate (3 Silben)
Stress on 1st syllable (ter)
Wortformen
Verb
- Base: terminate
- 3rd Person Singular: terminates
- Present Participle: terminating
- Past: terminated
Wortfamilie
Forms
terminates
verb
terminating
verb
terminated
verb
Core family
termination
noun B2
Related words
terminal
adjective A2
terminally
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
interminable
adjective C1
interminably
adverb
Advanced or less common
terminus
noun
Ausdrücke
be terminated for cause
1/bˈi tˈɚmɪnˌeɪtɪd fɚ kˈɔz/
fixed phrase
formal
lose job for specific misconduct
To be officially fired from a job because you did something wrong, not just because of business reasons.
Beispiele
- An employee may be terminated for cause if they steal company property.
- He was terminated for cause after repeatedly ignoring safety procedures.
- Being terminated for cause can make it harder to find a new job.
terminate a contract
1/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt ə kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
formal
formally end a contract
To officially make a contract end so it is no longer valid.
Beispiele
- Either party may terminate a contract by giving thirty days’ written notice.
- If the client fails to pay, we reserve the right to terminate a contract immediately.
- They decided to terminate a contract that was no longer profitable.
terminate a pregnancy
1/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt ə pɹˈɛɡnənsi/
fixed phrase
formal
intentionally end a pregnancy
To end a pregnancy on purpose, usually with a medical procedure.
Beispiele
- She made the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy after talking with her doctor.
- In some countries, it is legal to terminate a pregnancy only in the first trimester.
- They discussed whether to terminate a pregnancy because of serious health risks.
terminate employment
1/tˈɚmɪnˌeɪt ɪmplˈɔɪmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
formally end someone's employment
To officially stop someone’s job so they no longer work for the company.
Beispiele
- The company may terminate employment for repeated misconduct.
- They chose not to terminate employment but issued a final warning instead.
- Failure to follow safety rules can lead the company to terminate employment.