Collocation
end up doing something
To eventually find oneself in a particular place or situation, or to eventually do something, especially when one did not intend or expect to.
Definition
'end up doing something' is a common English collocation. To eventually find oneself in a particular place or situation, or to eventually do something, especially when one did not intend or expect to.
end up + verb-ing
“I didn't plan to stay long, but I ended up talking for hours.”
Examples
- I didn't plan to stay long, but I ended up talking for hours.
- They wanted to go hiking but ended up watching movies all day because of the rain.
- If you keep procrastinating, you'll end up rushing the project at the last minute.
Show more examples
- Despite her careful planning, she ended up getting lost in the old city.
- We thought we'd go to a fancy restaurant, but we ended up ordering pizza and staying home.
- He swore he wouldn't buy a new car, yet he ended up signing the papers yesterday.
- She always ends up helping everyone, even when she's busy.
- After all that debate, the committee ended up postponing the decision until next month.
- They never intended to live in the countryside, but they ended up loving it there.
- I usually end up doing laundry on Sundays.
Learn this in a path
More at B2 level
- come up with an idea To produce or think of a new idea, plan, or solution, often creatively or after some effort.
- figure out a problem To understand or solve a difficult situation, puzzle, or issue.
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- How do you two know each other? A common question used to ask about the origin or nature of the relationship between two people.
- I've heard a lot about you. I know things about you from other people's accounts or from your reputation, often used as an iceb…