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.
Plenty of investors still think that the AI build-out could get messy, with companies overspending and Wall Street eventually weeding out the losers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
“I still plan to take over Starz, and I will eventually get control of Starz.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
They eventually found a first aid kit to treat his open wound, but there was only a single bandage.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Even if AI spending eventually slows, broader adoption of the technology could provide a new source of support for corporate earnings and the market.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
His head spun relentlessly when he made a short-lived attempt at sleeping, so he eventually gave up and returned to restlessly googling until the sun rose at last.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
