finish

[ fin-ish ]

/ ˈfɪn ɪʃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR finish ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to bring (something) to an end or to completion; complete: to finish a novel; to finish breakfast.

to come to the end of (a course, period of time, etc.): to finish school.

to use completely (often followed by up or off): to finish up a can of paint; to finish off the rest of the milk.

to overcome completely; destroy or kill (often followed by off): This spray will finish off the cockroaches.

to complete and perfect in detail; put the final touches on (sometimes followed by up): He decided to finish his plan more carefully. She finished up a painting.

to put a finish on (wood, metal, etc.): We finished the desk in antique red lacquer.

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

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

verb (used without object)

to come to an end: The course finishes in January.

to complete a course, project, etc. (sometimes followed by up): I finished before he did. It was nine o'clock when we finished up.

(of livestock) to become fattened for market.

noun

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

the end of a hunt, race, etc.: a close finish.

a decisive ending: a fight to the finish.

the quality of being finished or completed with smoothness, elegance, etc.: to admire the finish of one's writing.

educational or social polish.

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

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

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

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.

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

a material for application in finishing.

Animal Husbandry. the fat tissue of livestock.

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

Verb Phrases

finish with,

to bring to completion: She's finished with her latest novel.
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.

Nearby words

Origin of finish

1300–50; Middle English finisshen < Anglo-French, Middle French finiss-, long stem of finir < Latin fīnīre to end. See fine¹

SYNONYMS FOR finish

1. terminate, conclude, close.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR finish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsfin·ish·er, nounnon·fin·ish·ing, adjective, nounpre·fin·ish, verb (used with object), noun

Can be confusedFinnish finish

Synonym study

13. See end¹.

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

Examples from the Web for finish

I had been studying abroad in London, and came back to finish the semester at Tufts.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone|Samantha Levine|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In 2008 and 2012, Huckabee and Santorum, respectively won the Iowa Caucus, but did not make it to the finish line.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“We would love to finish what we started some years ago,” Branson told journalists at a news conference with notable hesitancy.
You Were Wrong About Miley & Bitcoin: 2014’s Failed Predictions|Nina Strochlic|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finish the sauce by putting the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries|Carla Hall|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He said, “I am breaking my heart over this story, and cannot bear to finish it.”
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am sorry, but I —— not be able to finish the work before next week.
Business English|Rose Buhlig
The chapters in the same way often fail to finish the subject with which they deal, and sometimes include several subjects.
Study of Child Life|Marion Foster Washburne
Wine, lights, solitude in which to finish our game and a roaring good opportunity to sleep afterwards.
Dark Hollow|Anna Katherine Green
But Miss Parker had not waited for him to finish; she was already on her way to the carryall.
Thankful's Inheritance|Joseph C. Lincoln
You just run right into your study, Mr. Elliot, and finish your sermon; and there's a pan of hot doughnuts on the kitchen table.
An Alabaster Box|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman and Florence Morse Kingsley

British Dictionary definitions for finish

finish

/ (ˈfɪnɪʃ) /

verb (mainly tr)

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

(intr sometimes foll by up) to be at or come to the end; use up

to bring to a desired or complete condition

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

(often foll by off) to destroy or defeat completely

to train (a person) in social graces and talents

(intr foll by with)

to end a relationship or association
to stop punishing a personI haven't finished with you yet!

noun

the final or last stage or part; end

the death, destruction, or absolute defeat of a person or one side in a conflicta fight to the finish
the person, event, or thing that brings this about

the surface texture or appearance of wood, cloth, etca rough finish
a preparation, such as varnish, used to produce such a texture

a thing, event, etc, that completes

completeness and high quality of workmanship

refinement in social graces

sport ability to sprint at the end of a racehe has a good finish

Word Origin for finish

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

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

Word Origin and History for finish

finish

late 14c., "to bring to an end;" mid-15c., "to come to an end," from Old French finiss-, present participle stem of fenir (13c.) "stop, finish, come to an end, die," from Latin finire "to limit, set bounds, put an end to, come to an end," from finis "boundary, limit, border, end," of unknown origin, perhaps related to figere "to fasten, fix" (see fix). Meaning "to kill" is from 1755. Related: Finished; finishing. Finishing school is from 1836.

finish

1779, "that which finishes or gives completion," from finish (v.). Meaning "the end" is from 1790. Finish line attested from 1873.

Idioms and Phrases with finish

finish

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

finish

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of finish

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for finish

finish

verb (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for finish

finish

finish

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