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Synonyms

eventually

American  
[ih-ven-choo-uh-lee] / ɪˈvɛn tʃu ə li /

adverb

  1. finally; ultimately; at some later time.

    Eventually we will own the house free and clear.


eventually British  
/ ɪˈvɛntʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

  1. at the very end; finally

  2. (as sentence modifier) after a long time or long delay

    eventually, he arrived

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of eventually

First recorded in 1650–60; eventual + -ly

Explanation

Eventually refers to an unspecific time when something will be completed, and it usually suggests it won't be done soon. Think of eventually being said with a big sigh, as though the speaker knows that it will take a long time before something will be finished. Still, it does allow for the hope that, although it might not be anytime soon, it will be done at last — a promise fulfilled. Not now, maybe, but eventually.

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Vocabulary lists containing eventually

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Investors were also betting on what comes next, including thousands more hotels, car rentals and, eventually, advertising.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Brock Purdy eventually got San Francisco over the line thanks to new wide receiver Mike Evans, who had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown, taking some great catches late on.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

The findings suggest that a compound commonly associated with desserts and sweet fragrances could eventually contribute to an entirely different field: helping scientists develop better ways to protect damaged tissue and support healing.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

These approaches could eventually offer mushroom growers additional tools for controlling bacterial blotch while reducing their reliance on conventional chemical treatments.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

But eventually his eyes would travel to the row of relay switches in front of me.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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