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.
The 66-year-old had twice failed to get himself arrested so he could spend the night in jail before finally succeeding by sounding off about Erdogan in a park in the Mediterranean resort of Alanya.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
But he redeemed himself somewhat by declaring that he had finally got a taste for villainy.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
After some hesitation, the co-anchor finally placed his crown on his head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
You don’t need me to tell you a prolonged work stoppage would be disastrous for a sport that finally got itself some momentum in the past half decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
“Edda?” the voice asks for a third time as I finally begin to settle enough to process what is happening.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
