finito
Americanadjective
Usage
What does finito mean? Finito is an informal way to say “finished” or “done.”Finito is an Italian word meaning “finished” that has been borrowed into English unchanged. In English, it is used to emphasize that something is finished, often when the person is glad it’s over. Example: This relationship is done, over, finito—I don’t want to see you anymore!
Etymology
Origin of finito
First recorded in 1940–45; from Italian, past participle of finire, from Latin fīnīre “to end”; see finish
Explanation
Finito is an informal way to say "finished." After completing a particularly difficult assignment for your English class, you might close your laptop and say, "Finito!" Finito is commonly used for something that's come to an end, which might confuse a native Spanish speaker. In Spanish, finito means "fine or delicate," though it does mean "finished" in Italian. When you need a fun, slangy way to say "I'm done" or "it's finally over," go ahead and use finito. Cross the finish line after running a 5K? Finito! Graduate from high school? Finito! Finish an entire bag of cheese puffs? Finito!
Vocabulary lists containing finito
Aisle Nine
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Means to an End: Fin
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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.
In this way, and in his embrace of non finito, or “unfinished,” effects, he took care to include the viewer in the visual order he had established.
From Washington Post ● May 12, 2022
Pascal’s non finito manner, with little brought to a conclusion, is not an unfortunate failure but a deliberate defiance of Cartesian system-building.
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 15, 2019
And in style—he drops it a few feet from the flag, and finally, FINALLY, this one is finito.
From Golf Digest ● May 19, 2019
In an Instagram post, Louis-Dreyfus used lyrics from Katy Perry's song "Roar" to update her followers on her treatment status, noting that she was "finito" with her second round of chemotherapy.
From Time ● Oct. 20, 2017
The imp, taking the form of a civetta or small owl, vanished through the window in the storm-wind and rain, wailing, ‘Mai finito!’
From Legends of Florence Collected from the People, First Series by Leland, Charles Godfrey
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.
