finish

[fin-ish]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring (something) to an end or to completion; complete.

   to finish a novel; to finish breakfast.

   Synonyms: close, conclude, terminate

2. to come to the end of (a course, period of time, etc.).

   to finish school.

3. to use completely (often followed by up oroff ).

   to finish up a can of paint; to finish off the rest of the milk.

4. to overcome completely; destroy or kill (often followed byoff ).

   This spray will finish off the cockroaches.

5. to complete and perfect in detail; put the final touches on (sometimes followed byup ).

   He decided to finish his plan more carefully.

   She finished up a painting.

6. to put a finish on (wood, metal, etc.).

   We finished the desk in antique red lacquer.

7. to perfect (a person) in education, accomplishments, social graces, etc.

8. to ready (livestock) for market by feeding a diet calculated to produce the desired weight.

verb (used without object)

1. to come to an end.

   The course finishes in January.

2. to complete a course, project, etc. (sometimes followed byup ).

   I finished before he did. It was nine o'clock when we finished up.

3. (of livestock) to become fattened for market.

noun

1. the end or conclusion; the final part or last stage.

2. the end of a hunt, race, etc..

   a close finish.

3. a decisive ending.

   a fight to the finish.

4. the quality of being finished or completed with smoothness, elegance, etc..

   to admire the finish of one's writing.

5. educational or social polish.

6. the manner in which an object is perfected or finished in its preparation, or an effect imparted in finishing.

7. the surface coating or texture of wood, metal, etc.

8. something used or serving to finish, complete, or perfect a thing.

9. woodwork or the like, especially in the interior of a building, not essential to the structure but used for purposes of ornament, neatness, etc..

   a finish of black walnut.

10. Also called finishing coat. Also called finish coat,. a final coat of plaster or paint.

11. a material for application in finishing.

12. Animal Husbandry.,  the fat tissue of livestock.

13. the flavor remaining in the mouth after a wine has been swallowed.

verb phrase

1. finish with

   1. to bring to completion.

      She's finished with her latest novel.

   2. to put aside, break all relations with, or reject finally.

      He's finished with football and will play only baseball now.

      After the way they treated us, we're finished with them.

finish

/ ˈfɪnɪʃ /

verb

1. to bring to an end; complete, conclude, or stop

2. to be at or come to the end; use up

3. to bring to a desired or complete condition

4. to put a particular surface texture on (wood, cloth, etc)

5. (often foll by off) to destroy or defeat completely

6. to train (a person) in social graces and talents

7. 1. to end a relationship or association

   2. to stop punishing a person

      I haven't finished with you yet!

noun

1. the final or last stage or part; end

2. 1. the death, destruction, or absolute defeat of a person or one side in a conflict

      a fight to the finish

   2. the person, event, or thing that brings this about

3. 1. the surface texture or appearance of wood, cloth, etc

      a rough finish

   2. a preparation, such as varnish, used to produce such a texture

4. a thing, event, etc, that completes

5. completeness and high quality of workmanship

6. refinement in social graces

7. sport ability to sprint at the end of a race

   he has a good finish

Other Word Forms

• finisher noun
• nonfinishing adjective
• prefinish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of finish¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English finisshen, from Anglo-French, Middle French finiss-, long stem of finir, from Latin fīnīre “to end”; fine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of finish¹

C14: from Old French finir , from Latin fīnīre see _fine ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see from soup to nuts (start to finish); in at the death (finish).

Synonym Study

See end ¹.

Example Sentences

The Gunners dominated the second half against the six-time European champions to finish as worthy winners.

Read more on Barron's

Records show Booker took part in at least two other strongwoman competitions this year - winning the Rainier Classic in June and finishing second at North America's Strongest Woman in July.

Read more on BBC

It’s building more plants to power data centers—essential for artificial intelligence—and management says its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, or CVOW, is now 66% finished.

Read more on Barron's

Austin Reaves put the finishing touches on the Lakers’ 135-118 win over the Clippers on Tuesday by scoring 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And winning league phase matches does not ensure success - just ask the Liverpool side that finished top of the standings in 2024-25 before losing in the last 16 to eventual winners PSG.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• accomplish 
• achieve 
• clinch 
• close 
• complete 
• conclude 
• do 
• end 
• make 
• play out 
• settle 
• stop 
• wind up 
• wrap up