finalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
finalizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
finalized,
past participle, past
-
finalizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
finalizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
finalized,
past participle, past
-
finalizing
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to put into final form; settle
to finalize plans for the merger
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(intr) to complete arrangements or negotiations; reach agreement on a transaction
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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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finalizesimple
-
finalizessimple
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have finalizedperfect
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has finalizedperfect
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am finalizingprogressive
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are finalizingprogressive
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is finalizingprogressive
-
have been finalizingperfect progressive
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has been finalizingperfect progressive
Past
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finalizedsimple
-
had finalizedperfect
-
was finalizingprogressive
-
were finalizingprogressive
-
had been finalizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of finalize
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.
Vocabulary lists containing finalize
This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for December 19–25, 2020
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 10–November 16, 2024
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ize
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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.
See Examples For:
Samsung’s stock fell 4%, as investors focused on the company saying it will not finalize details of a plan to return 90 trillion to 110 trillion won to shareholders until next year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
The agreement repeatedly cites a set of “Implementation Documents” that will finalize the U.S. ownership stake and the rights of unnamed investors.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
The payments began while Hines was working to finalize the Genius Act—legislation that would dictate Tether’s ability to operate in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The merger could finalize by early next month, capping the 43-year-old tech scion’s meteoric rise into one of Hollywood’s most influential figures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Because land tenure was a contentious issue in Peru, he had asked Dobyns to finalize the lease and learn more about the estate’s history.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
So far, the Treasury Department has been reluctant to fully incorporate pharmaceuticals, according to two people familiar with the matter, as it finalizes regulation for other technology under the law, like AI systems and semiconductors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Rackspace Technology finalizes a deal with Advanced Micro Devices to use its chips for Rackspace’s AI cloud, causing shares to surge.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
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 streamer, which remains the industry juggernaut, is also expected to add Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby and an opening night game when MLB finalizes a new media rights deal this year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 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
PETERSBURG, Fla.—The champagne was on ice, the parade route was being finalized and the party was beginning all across Wisconsin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
That program would allow the company to sell shares over time, though Meta says it hasn’t finalized the arrangement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Robach and Holmes both finalized their divorces in 2023.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
His divorce from the Nico Vega vocalist was finalized in March 2024.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Chief Buthelezi wanted a constitution drawn up before the election and walked out in protest against the setting of an election date before a constitution was finalized.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The transportation authority is finalizing a study in the coming weeks that evaluates strategies for protecting the seven miles of railroad through Dana Point and San Clemente for the next 30 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
OpenAI said it was "actively finalizing contracts" with third-party safety assessors and would announce details in the coming weeks.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
With Nvidia finalizing its Rubin artificial-intelligence chip platform in the coming months, Hosseini said the product ramp, which is when production and shipments scale up, will likely move into April.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
“CDC is finalizing decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccine procurement through the Vaccines for Children and Section 317 programs, and additional information will be available soon,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Only a few people knew of his presence in Floyd McKissick’s house, where Callis Brown and other NCC students were finalizing plans for a sit-in at a Durham lunch counter.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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