finally

adverb

fi·​nal·​ly ˈfī-nᵊl-ē 

ˈfīn-lē

1

: after a prolonged time : at the end of period of time

Two hours later, the train finally arrived.

He finally got around to calling.

I'm so happy to finally meet you!

It finally dawned on me what she'd meant.

2

a

: as the last act or occurrence in a series : in the end : eventually

After many attempts, they finally gave up.

"My career meandered all over the place and I finally settled on comedic acting. …"

—Cassandra Peterson

"He listened to the whole thing, very attentive, and finally he turned to the doctor and he said, 'I have a question.'"

—Russell Newman

b

: by way of conclusion : as the last point

"… Finally, I'd like to thank the fans for their great support …"

—Joe Girardi

c

: in the end : ultimately

What finally matters is whether you're likely to drink enough of the organisms to make you sick.

—Peter Jaret

3

old-fashioned : in a final manner : in a way that does not allow change

I have reason for asking this question which you have answered so finally.

—Willa Cather

She said it so finally … that Mr. Pumblechook … could not protest.

—Charles Dickens

… the power to decide finally and conclusively upon all motions made in the course of legislative proceedings …

—John G. Carlisle

Synonyms

• eventually
• someday
• sometime
• sooner or later
• ultimately
• yet

Examples of finally in a Sentence

we're making steady progress and may finally finish this project

Recent Examples on the Web

The prosecution has drawn a direct line between Woodward’s public comments in high school to his decision to join Atomwaffen and finally to his killing of Bernstein. —Sean Emery, Orange County Register, 12 May 2024

And on the very day the rains finally started, says Paris, Sorai suddenly took ill. —Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 12 May 2024

And then, finally, Gilliam’s dream — to be a mother — came true. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 May 2024

In the ninth inning, KC finally broke through as Adam Frazier hit a go-ahead two-run homer. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024

And finally, graduating also seemed like a good way of getting back at the ASU officials who kicked him out nearly six decades ago. —Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024

Over the past two days, several thousand civilians who had hung on through some very tough times finally abandoned their homes in Ukraine’s northeast after the Russians opened a new front. —Jeffrey Gettleman Emile Ducke, New York Times, 11 May 2024

Her mother dying at a young age, her father recusing himself from his caretaker duties after that and, finally, her young husband’s untimely passing. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 30 Apr. 2024

Sarasota, in particular, has been overvalued for decades, and the chickens have finally come to roost. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing finally

• the/his chickens are (finally) coming home to roost