finalize

American  

[fahyn-l-ahyz] / ˈfaɪn lˌaɪz /

especially British, finalise

verb (used with object)

• finalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• finalized,
  past participle,  past
• finalizing
  present participle

1. to put into final form; complete all the details of.

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verb (used without object)

• finalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• finalized,
  past participle,  past
• finalizing
  present participle

1. to complete an agreement; conclude negotiations.

   We should finalize by the end of the week.

finalize British  

/ ˈfaɪnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to put into final form; settle

   to finalize plans for the merger

2. (intr) to complete arrangements or negotiations; reach agreement on a transaction

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Spelling

See -ize.

Usage

Although finalize has been in widespread use for some time, many speakers and writers still prefer to use complete, conclude , or make final , esp in formal contexts

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• finalization
  noun
• finalizer
  noun
• unfinalized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• finalizing
  present
• finalized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• finalize
  simple
• finalizes
  simple
• have finalized
  perfect
• has finalized
  perfect
• am finalizing
  progressive
• are finalizing
  progressive
• is finalizing
  progressive
• have been finalizing
  perfect progressive
• has been finalizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• finalized
  simple
• had finalized
  perfect
• was finalizing
  progressive
• were finalizing
  progressive
• had been finalizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will finalize
  simple
• will have finalized
  perfect
• will be finalizing
  progressive
• will have been finalizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of finalize

First recorded in 1920–25; final + -ize

Explanation

When you put the finishing touches on something, such as agreeing on a specific time and place to meet your friend on Saturday, you finalize your plans. The word finalize is relatively new, and often people choose to use the words conclude or complete instead, maybe because finalize seems a little fake to them. In the 1920s, an Australian writer took the word final, meaning the very last, and the suffix -ize, and stuck them together to make finalize. Before long it showed up in dictionaries, and the invention of the word was finalized.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

finalize finalizes finalized finalizing

Tonight, Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under the terms agreed earlier this week.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

So now the big question is whether the negotiators can finalize that agreement.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

US and Canadian negotiators resumed trade talks shortly after midday Thursday, as both countries push to finalize a deal to avert new tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Two hours before his self-imposed midnight deadline, President Trump wrote online that he would pause aggressive action abroad for three days, giving negotiators time to finalize some unspecified deal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

On November 7, 2003, our family went down to the courthouse to finalize the adoption.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

That includes the shares held by SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, which he will be barred from selling for a year and a day after SpaceX finalizes its prospectus paperwork.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026

The decision finalizes this phase of the explosive, yearslong case that has pitted the environmental organization against the company Energy Transfer, opening the door to an appeals process in the closely watched legal saga.

From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026

“The divestment of our European onshore platform finalizes the divestment program that we’ve laid out, and we’ve now substantially strengthened Orsted’s financial position,” Orsted Chief Financial Officer Trond Westlie said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

Clara Karger, a Bass spokesperson, said the mayor will continue engaging with the budget committee as it finalizes its spending proposals.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2025

June 2005: Spirit AeroSystems forms when Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp. finalizes the purchase of Boeing Wichita’s commercial aircraft division for $1.5 billion.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024

Neos and Innovator Capital — another ETF firm purchased by Goldman in a deal that was finalized earlier this year — both cater to this rapidly growing niche.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Then, once finalized, it may take more time for the rules to take effect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

A deal for the medical-device company could be finalized soon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The states argue that this merger would leave consumers paying more for less diverse news and entertainment options if finalized.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

She was one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek sculpture, and she was in Los Angeles visiting the Getty just before the museum finalized the deal with Becchina.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Canada’s minister in charge of U.S. trade said Ottawa and Washington are “very close” to finalizing an agreement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

New York-based world-model startup General Intuition is now finalizing a round of investment that would value it at more than $6 billion, making it the most valuable AI lab of this kind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

For Paramount, finalizing the transaction by year’s end would eliminate such payments in 2027.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

The EPA’s comment period allowed 60 days for the public to weigh in on the list before agency staff began reviewing the feedback and finalizing.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

I shut the glove box with a finalizing click!

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

Related Words

• agree
• conclude
• decide
• settle
• work out
• wrap up