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.
My father and I eventually reconciled at his house a few years after I signed with the Braves.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
His mother said he initially wondered whether to answer the question in the first person, given he had inspired the poem, but eventually decided the examiner might not believe him.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Beyond advancing basic neuroscience, the research may eventually contribute to better treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
“I still plan to take over Starz, and I will eventually get control of Starz.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
It was fortunate for Duane that he was such a sound sleeper and far too big for an arctic fox to push out of bed because Magic would eventually give up and leave.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
