adverb
-
after a long delay; at last; eventually
-
at the end or final point; lastly
-
completely; conclusively; irrevocably
-
in the end; lastly
finally, he put his tie on
-
as the last or final point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument
Etymology
Origin of finally
Explanation
Finally means "at the end of a long wait." Although it seemed like it would never end, and in the middle you were cursing the day you signed up for the marathon, when you finally finished, you were overjoyed. Final means "last," so use the adverb finally to describe an end result or long-awaited satisfaction. Once the tedious dinner party was over, you finally got to go home and watch TV. If you're giving a speech and you have 14 different points that you're going to make, when you get to the last one, say "finally..." and then make the point. You can also say "in conclusion..." if that last point really sums it all up.
Vocabulary lists containing finally
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Workshop 2, Part 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But Alpine have stumbled since, until finally showing signs of a revival this season, following Renault's decision to abandon its F1 engine project and switch to Mercedes customer engines.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
No, Arte, thank you for finally selling the Angels to someone with a remarkable history of building successful teams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
And finally, what do George Santos and Steve Ballmer have in common?
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
The big news in travel this week: Southwest Airlines is finally joining the airport-lounge game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Clare finally caught his monocle, and with the other paw, he yanked at his hood, fumbling it over his disfigured ear.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
