finite
Americanadjective
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having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.
- Synonyms:
- restricted, limited, bounded
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Mathematics.
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(of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.
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not infinite or infinitesimal.
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not zero.
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subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature.
our finite existence on earth.
noun
adjective
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bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
a finite difference
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maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number Compare denumerable infinite
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limited or restricted in nature
human existence is finite
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( as noun )
the finite
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denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense
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Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.
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Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.
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Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.
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Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of finite
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine 1, -ite 2
Explanation
Calling something finite means it has an end or finishing point. Preparing for a standardized test might be unpleasant, but you have to remember that the work is finite; you won't be doing it forever. Most people are far more familiar with the word finite when they see it inside the word infinite, or without end. Finite can be used for conceptual things, like time: "Life is finite, so we should live it to the fullest." It can also be used for more tangible things: "We have to be careful with the cooking, we only have a finite amount of fuel." You might want to think of things being finito — a word that looks a lot like finite — to remember that it means, "with an end."
Vocabulary lists containing finite
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Algebra
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“UC has finite resources and can help only so many students.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
It also means the AI buildout is competing for physical resources — land, energy, construction labor, raw materials — that are finite and already under pressure.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
Under practical finite key conditions, the setup maintained an average secure key rate of about ~15 bits/s, a level considered suitable for real-world encrypted text messaging applications.
From Science Daily • May 9, 2026
"There is a finite amount of time that a player can perform at the optimum level," said Ferguson.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
In discussing the large-scale structure of the Cosmos, astronomers are fond of saying that space is curved, or that there is no center to the Cosmos, or that the universe is finite but unbounded.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
