eventually
Americanadverb
adverb
-
at the very end; finally
-
(as sentence modifier) after a long time or long delay
eventually, he arrived
Etymology
Origin of eventually
Explanation
Eventually refers to an unspecific time when something will be completed, and it usually suggests it won't be done soon. Think of eventually being said with a big sigh, as though the speaker knows that it will take a long time before something will be finished. Still, it does allow for the hope that, although it might not be anytime soon, it will be done at last — a promise fulfilled. Not now, maybe, but eventually.
Vocabulary lists containing eventually
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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"In the Spotlight," Vocabulary from the informational text
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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.
He eventually asked Claude if there was a more powerful agent that could handle his children’s schedules—one that still addressed his privacy and security concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
There is no limit on how much a service charge can increase, but a law passed in 2024 should eventually force managing agents to provide a full breakdown of costs.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
When organisers eventually found them a plane at the last minute, the senior squad was so annoyed it refused to board and Burkina ended up hastily despatching an under-23 team.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Cartilage begins to break down faster than it can be replaced, eventually allowing bones to rub against one another.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
She chewed as slowly as she could manage, but eventually the cake insisted upon being swallowed.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
