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.
When the house was finally sold, the brothers took a share of the proceeds, even though that money was needed to provide care for their mom, Ruth said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
A long-running debate about a mysterious crater hidden beneath the North Sea has finally been settled.
From Science Daily • Jun. 30, 2026
Instead, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finally closed above the 52,000 thanks to Alphabet officially joining its ranks—a move that helped boost the index amid a wider tech rally.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
This month, Watkins and Davidson finally were able to take the floor together, just as Gottlieb had envisioned.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
After sticking around to watch Jonah win his race, the three of us — that is, he, I, and the lizard — finally find a game that I think I can win.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
