adverb
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after a long delay; at last; eventually
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at the end or final point; lastly
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completely; conclusively; irrevocably
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in the end; lastly
finally, he put his tie on
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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
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Workshop 2, Part 1
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Unit 8
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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.
Kafka and Jesenská did finally meet for a getaway in 1920, but being together in person seems to have ruined the magic.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
A new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics suggests NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may finally be able to uncover some of them.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
“I’m only here once in my whole life,” Diesel said when he finally made it inside the theater after taking selfies with an army of fans.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
When he finally made it, he said: "Sorry I am late, but Tony Pulis is Tony Pulis and red wine is red wine."
From BBC • May 15, 2026
“Uncle Max,” my dad said finally, giving a look I didn’t understand.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
