terminate
bring something to an end
To make something stop or end, usually in a formal or official way.
to terminate [something]
- The company decided to terminate the contract due to repeated delays.
- Either party may terminate this agreement with thirty days’ written notice.
- 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.
- The school will terminate the program next year.
- You can terminate the contract if you are not happy with the service.
- 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.
dismiss someone from their job
To officially make someone leave their job.
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.
- 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.
come to an end officially
To end by itself at a planned time, especially in a contract or legal document.
[something] terminates on/at [time or condition]
- This lease terminates on December 31 unless renewed in writing.
- The insurance policy terminates automatically if premiums are not paid.
- 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.
- The contract terminates at the end of this year.
- Your health coverage terminates when you leave the company.
- The agreement terminates unless both sides sign again.
- The lease terminates in June, so we must move.
- Her work permit terminates next month.
end a pregnancy intentionally
To make a pregnancy end on purpose, usually with medical help.
to terminate [the/a] pregnancy
- After careful consideration, she chose to terminate the pregnancy.
- The law allows women to terminate a pregnancy within the first twelve weeks.
- 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.
- She decided to terminate the pregnancy.
- In some countries, it is legal to terminate a pregnancy.
- 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.
stop a computer process or connection
In computers, to make a program, process, or connection stop running.
to terminate [a process/connection/session/program]
- If the application freezes, you may need to terminate the process manually.
- The system will automatically terminate the session after ten minutes of inactivity.
- 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.
- Click this button to terminate the program.
- The computer terminates the session after you log out.
- 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.
end at a particular place or form
To stop or finish at a certain place or in a certain form.
[something] terminates at/in [a place/thing]
- The road terminates at the edge of the forest.
- This train service terminates at Central Station.
- 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.
- The bus route terminates at the airport.
- This street terminates at the river.
- The cable terminates in a small metal plug.
- The path terminates at a closed gate.
- Our tour terminates in the city center.
kill someone (euphemistic/joking)
To kill a person; used as a joking or soft way to say this, especially in movies or stories.
to terminate [someone]
- In the film, the agent is ordered to locate and terminate the target.
- The crime boss hired a hitman to terminate anyone who talked to the police.
- 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.
- In the movie, the robot is sent to terminate the hero.
- The killer was paid to terminate the man.
- 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.
- Base: terminate
- 3rd Person Singular: terminates
- Present Participle: terminating
- Past: terminated
be terminated for cause
1lose job for specific misconduct
To be officially fired from a job because you did something wrong, not just because of business reasons.
- 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
1formally end a contract
To officially make a contract end so it is no longer valid.
- 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
1intentionally end a pregnancy
To end a pregnancy on purpose, usually with a medical procedure.
- 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
1formally end someone's employment
To officially stop someone’s job so they no longer work for the company.
- 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.