eventually
Americanadverb
adverb
-
at the very end; finally
-
(as sentence modifier) after a long time or long delay
eventually, he arrived
Etymology
Origin of eventually
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.
Vocabulary lists containing eventually
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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"In the Spotlight," Vocabulary from the informational text
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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.
Bonds may receive a bid later in 2027, when the stock market slide eventually encourages a move into havens, he added.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Dying cells that remain in tissues can eventually rupture and release their contents, contributing to chronic inflammation.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026
Released in June 2006, Twelve Stops and Home reached number two in the UK charts and eventually achieved triple-platinum status.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Michelle Min began designing her own clothing and accessories, “and eventually the entire inventory became her stuff, and that’s where it all started.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
I stayed away not because they ignored me, though, but because I was afraid they would eventually speak to me.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
