What happened in the end? vs What happened at the end?

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'What happened in the end?' is more commonly used when referring to the final outcome or resolution of a situation. On the other hand, 'What happened at the end?' is typically used when asking about the events that occurred towards the conclusion of a story or sequence of events.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 413 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"What happened in the end?"

This phrase is used to inquire about the final outcome or resolution of a situation.

Examples:

I wasn't sure how it would all turn out, but what happened in the end was unexpected.
What happened in the end was a happy ending for everyone involved.

Show examples from the web [+]

So, what happened in the end?
Jesus! What happened at the end there?
And in the end, that's exactly what happened.
You do know what happened to Lincoln in the end, right?
However, then the analysis informs us only about the beginning and the end, telling us nothing about what happened in the middle.
Before the end of the year, I will present a proposal on safety on ferries, although we know what happened in the case of the Samina Express: they were watching football.
Does your villain lose in the end?
How was your mother's party in the end?
Your grandfather forgave her in the end?
What is religion in the end?
What couples get together in the end?
Did you make peace in the end?
What solution has been found in the end?
What consequences did it have in the end?
So here's what happened at the end.
I still feel really bad about what happened at the end of last year.
To save your own skin in a last desperate attempt to bury the truth about what happened in Basra now you think Porter is the only loose end.
Because of this, what happened in Yugoslavia is happening today in Iraq, and we do not know when the tragedy of the latter will end.
Were you all right, in the end?
What medication did you give her in the end?

Alternatives:

what ultimately happened?
what was the final result?
how did it all end?
what was the outcome?
what was the conclusion?

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"What happened at the end?"

This phrase is used to ask about the events that took place towards the conclusion of a story or sequence of events.

Examples:

I fell asleep during the movie. Can you tell me what happened at the end?
What happened at the end of the book left me speechless.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jesus! What happened at the end there?
What happened at the end of the movie?
With all respect what happened at the end of the film?
From your point of view, what happened at the end of last week?
So, what happened in the end?
So here's what happened at the end.
I still feel really bad about what happened at the end of last year.
What happened at the end of season one was Henry accidentally ate an apple turnover that had a sleeping curse in it...
Gus, you don't want this to be a repeat of the time I told you what happened at the end of War Games.
And I've just remembered what happened at the end of the story.
'cause I just feel super sorry about... about what happened at the end there.
I'm talking about what happened at the end of senior year, which Vince was trying to get me to talk about before.
We allowed the lap this week to be edited by ITV... so we'll never know what happened at the end.
Would he agree that while the Employment Conference is welcome, we need some new thinking and something as dramatic as what happened at the end of the Second World War?
Moreover, a bridge programme should be envisaged allowing certain States, including Italy, to make use of the unused funds from the 1994-99 programming period, similarly to what happened at the end of the 1993 programming period.
At the end of the email, there are these descriptions Of what happened to people who broke the chain.
What happened at noon today was the action of those who are too lazy to stick it out right through to the end of the sitting.
In my opinion the principle of the separation of powers also comes into play here because, at the end of the day, the President-in-Office was acting as a judge of what happened.
The most serious accident happened at the end of April when one train collided with another and eighteen people suffered minor injuries.
Who will be standing at the end?

Alternatives:

what occurred towards the conclusion?
what transpired at the conclusion?
what took place at the end?
what happened in the final moments?
what unfolded at the end?

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What happened in the end? vs What happened at the end?