finish

[ fin-ish ]

/ ˈfɪn ɪʃ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: finish / finished / finishing / finisher 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 byoff): 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR finish

1 terminate, conclude, close.

See synonyms for finish on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of finish

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

synonym study for finish

13. See end¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM finish

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH finish

Finnish, finish

Words nearby finish

finick, finicky, fining, finis, finis coronat opus, finish, finished, finisher, finisher card, finishing, finishing nail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use finish in a sentence

Then, knit three stitches and finish by increasing another one.
How to knit your own Bernie mittens|Sandra Gutierrez G.|January 26, 2021|Popular-Science
Then, as we approach the finish, we use it all up with a glorious sprint.
The Physiology of the Finishing Kick|Alex Hutchinson|January 26, 2021|Outside Online
An impressive variety of layouts allows buyers to choose the one that best suits their lifestyle, although there are some signature elements intrinsic to the developer’s vision, like the bespoke finishes that were selected to stand the test of time.
Maddox House offers craftsmanship, thoughtful design|Greg Schneider|January 21, 2021|Washington Blade
With these shelves, you will undoubtedly save space while creating a custom way to organize whether that be by color, brand, or finish.
Nail polish organizers to keep your collection in check|PopSci Commerce Team|January 20, 2021|Popular-Science

For the optimal training experience, select one journey to watch live from start to finish.
The SMX Report agenda is live!|Lauren Donovan|January 19, 2021|Search Engine Land
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
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
The mother's lips could not finish the charge she was about to put upon her innocent child.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
I suppose I must take you down to see the old man, and then we'll go straight off to Rome, and finish the winter there.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
She's been three times; but it's so sad; the story is a beautiful one, only she doesn't think he'll live to finish it.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with finish

finish

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

finish

OTHER WORDS FOR finish

Origin of finish

synonym study for finish

OTHER WORDS FROM finish

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH finish

Words nearby finish

Words related to finish

How to use finish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for finish

Word Origin for finish

Other Idioms and Phrases with finish