end up

What it means

To finally arrive at a place, situation, or result, often unexpectedly. It usually suggests the outcome was not planned from the start.

Examples

• We meant to go to Rome but ended up in a tiny coastal village.
• If you keep skipping classes, you'll end up failing the course.
• She ended up marrying her best friend from high school.
• I started writing a song and ended up with an entire album.

Where it comes from

Inseparable, almost always followed by a place, an -ing form, or 'with'. Highly informal and conversational, common in storytelling.

Related phrasal verbs