finally

American  

[fahyn-l-ee] / ˈfaɪn l i /

adverb

1. at the final point or moment; in the end.

2. in a final manner; conclusively or decisively.

3. at last; eventually; after considerable delay.

   After three tries, he finally passed his driving test.

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finally British  

/ ˈfaɪnəlɪ /

adverb

1. after a long delay; at last; eventually

2. at the end or final point; lastly

3. completely; conclusively; irrevocably

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1. in the end; lastly

   finally, he put his tie on

2. as the last or final point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument

Etymology

Origin of finally

First recorded in 1325–75; final + -ly

Explanation

Finally means "at the end of a long wait." Although it seemed like it would never end, and in the middle you were cursing the day you signed up for the marathon, when you finally finished, you were overjoyed. Final means "last," so use the adverb finally to describe an end result or long-awaited satisfaction. Once the tedious dinner party was over, you finally got to go home and watch TV. If you're giving a speech and you have 14 different points that you're going to make, when you get to the last one, say "finally..." and then make the point. You can also say "in conclusion..." if that last point really sums it all up.

Example Sentences

And finally, the courts confirmed what we all knew: Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster are screwing everyone over.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

"There's certainly a sense of relief that it is finally over. Hopefully, we can finally move forward and rebuild our lives."

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“He looks forward to finally having his day in court on this long-pending matter.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

What’s more, high prices for oil and other commodities could depress consumer spending and force businesses to finally lay off lots of workers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

When Ermelo had finally caught on to him, he had come to Haarlem and teamed up with Willemse and Kapteyn.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• already
• belatedly
• eventually
• someday
• sooner or later
• subsequently
• ultimately