final

[ fahyn-l ]

/ ˈfaɪn l /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR final ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to or coming at the end; last in place, order, or time: the final meeting of the year.

ultimate: The final goal is world peace.

conclusive or decisive: a final decision.

constituting the end or purpose: a final result.

pertaining to or expressing the end or purpose: a final clause.

Law.

precluding further controversy on the questions passed upon: The judicial determination of the Supreme Court is final.
determining all issues presented, so that no further decision upon the merits of the issues is necessary: a final judgment or decree.

Phonetics. occurring at the end of a word or syllable, as the (t) sound in bit or bite.

noun

that which is last; that which forms an end or termination.

Often finals.

the last and decisive game, match, contest, or round in a series, as in sports.
the last, usually comprehensive, examination in a course of study.

the last edition of a newspaper published on any day.

Music. the tonic note of a church mode.

Nearby words

fin-footed, fin., fin. sec., finable, finagle, final, final cause, final cut, final four, final host, final judgment

Origin of final

1300–50; 1915–20 for def 10; Middle English < Latin fīnālis, equivalent to fīn(is) end + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR final

1 See last¹.

3 definite, irrevocable, irreversible, unalterable.

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ANTONYMS FOR final

1 initial, first.

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Related formspseu·do·fi·nal, adjectivepseu·do·fi·nal·ly, adverbqua·si-fi·nal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for finals

These days, Tirico announces everything from the World Cup to the NBA Finals to the crown jewel, Monday Night Football.
ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Pricks|Marlow Stern|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At just 22 years, 350 days, he was the third youngest NBA Finals MVP in history behind Magic Johnson and his teammate, Tim Duncan.
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard Is Named NBA Finals MVP on Father’s Day, Six Years After His Dad’s Murder|Marlow Stern|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jean-Marie Le Pen was crushed in the 2002 finals by a margin of more than five to one.
The Seductive Madame Le Pen|Christopher Dickey|January 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So we hatched a plan to meet after the finals in Pamplona, Spain, for the running of the bulls.
A Young Chef Travels to Calabria, Italy, and Learns the Old Ways of Cooking|Curtis Stone|November 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

We were doing what much of America was doing that night, watching the NBA Finals, Knicks versus Rockets.
The O.J. Anniversary|Michael Tomasky|June 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
My initials form a country in Europe, and my finals one of its lakes.
Little Folks (November 1884)|Various
The initials and finals, read downward, spell the names of two powerful countries.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, V. 5, April 1878|Various
At Bryn Mawr finals were over and the "'Varsity" had been picked, so that all excitement was now centred in the alumn game.
A Book of Bryn Mawr Stories|Marian T. MacIntosh
We got together at his office in the Board of Trade building to play off the finals with the bull crowd.
Old Gorgon Graham|George Horace Lorimer
When the coffee came on, America's representative in the finals attempted to explain his defeat.
Fore!|Charles Emmett Van Loan

British Dictionary definitions for finals (1 of 2)

finals

/ (ˈfaɪnəlz) /

pl n

the deciding part or parts of a sports or other competition

education the last examination series in an academic or professional course

British Dictionary definitions for finals (2 of 2)

final

/ (ˈfaɪnəl) /

adjective

of or occurring at the end; concluding; ultimate; last

having no possibility for further discussion, action, or change; conclusive; decisivea final decree of judgment

relating to or constituting an end or purposea final clause may be introduced by ``in order to''

phonetics at the end of a word``cat'' has a final ``t'' Compare medial (def. 1), initial (def. 1)

music another word for perfect (def. 9b)

noun

a terminal or last thing; end

a deciding contest between the winners of previous rounds in a competition

music the tonic note of a church mode

Word Origin for final

C14: from Latin fīnālis, from fīnis limit, boundary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with finals

final

see in the final analysis.

final

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of final

Examples from the Web for finals

British Dictionary definitions for finals (1 of 2)

finals

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for finals (2 of 2)

final

adjective

noun

Word Origin for final

Idioms and Phrases with finals

final