finite

[ fahy-nahyt ]

/ ˈfaɪ naɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for finite on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

Mathematics.

(of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.
not infinite or infinitesimal.
not zero.

subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature: our finite existence on earth.

noun

something that is finite.

OTHER WORDS FOR finite

1 bounded, limited, circumscribed, restricted.

See synonyms for finite on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of finite

1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine¹, -ite²

OTHER WORDS FROM finite

fi·nite·ly, adverbfi·nite·ness, nounnon·fi·nite, adjective, nounnon·fi·nite·ly, adverb

non·fi·nite·ness, nounsu·per·fi·nite, adjectivesu·per·fi·nite·ly, adverbsu·per·fi·nite·ness, nounun·fi·nite, adjective

Words nearby finite

finishing school, finishing touch, finish line, Finistère, Finisterre, finite, finite clause, finite difference, finite-dimensional, finite intersection property, finitely additive function

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

How to use finite in a sentence

US vetting requirements, capacity limitations at refugee resettlement agencies, and a finite number of slots available under the current refugee admissions cap could all contribute to delays in bringing them to American soil.
The long road to resettling Afghans in the US|Nicole Narea|August 27, 2021|Vox
Giving students early access to Pell meant drawing down finite dollars, as the grants can only be used for 12 semesters.
Feds to end dual-enrollment experiment, disappointing participating colleges|Danielle Douglas-Gabriel|August 25, 2021|Washington Post
These so-called infinite-dimensional matrices have a very different algebra from finite-dimensional ones.
How I Escaped My Troubles Through Science - Issue 104: Harmony|Subodh Patil|August 25, 2021|Nautilus
As you might have expected, f was less than 1, meaning the chain had a finite length.
Can You Zoom Around The Race Track?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 6, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Until the 1960s, scientists believed that the number of neurons and synaptic connections in the human brain were finite and that, once damaged, these brain cells could not be replaced.
Swimming is the ultimate brain exercise. Here’s why.|Purbita Saha|July 28, 2021|Popular-Science
Many of the fuels we use to generate electricity —natural gas, oil, coal—are abundant yet finite.
Will Food Waste Power Your Home?|The Daily Beast|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It is an outrage that DEA is using finite taxpayer dollars to impound legal industrial hemp seeds,” he said.
Kentucky Tells Feds: Hands Off Our Hemp!|Abby Haglage|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The reservoir of settlement-related projects available for promotion is finite.
Netanyahu Must Rein in Extremists in Coalition, or Risk Derailing Peace Talks|Daniel Seidemann, Lara Friedman|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And they're wise to pursue this course, because the most finite resource in this discussion is land.
Don't Get Too Stressed About the Farm Bubble|Justin Green|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For all practical purposes, the world's supply of oil is not finite.
Let's Pursue a New Version of 'Peak Oil'|David Frum|March 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To imitate finite excellence, is to aspire at excellence, even though but in part.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
To follow these would be delightful and honouring; but would be to follow what is merely a copy, and only finite.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
Its effects on creatures being finite, what is finite might these in some measure point out.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
A spirit has no body; an infinite being is a being which is not finite; a perfect being is a being which is not imperfect.
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier
What good to me is the favor of a being who, able to bestow upon me infinite good, does not even give me a finite one?
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier

British Dictionary definitions for finite

finite

/ (ˈfaɪnaɪt) /

adjective

bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extenta finite difference

maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural numberCompare denumerable, infinite (def. 4)

limited or restricted in naturehuman existence is finite
(as noun)the finite

denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense

Derived forms of finite

finitely, adverbfiniteness, noun

Word Origin for finite

C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end

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

Scientific definitions for finite

finite

[ fī′nīt′ ]

Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.

Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.

Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.

Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.

finite

OTHER WORDS FOR finite

Origin of finite

OTHER WORDS FROM finite

Words nearby finite

learn more about finite

Words related to finite

How to use finite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for finite

Derived forms of finite

Word Origin for finite

Scientific definitions for finite