finalize

verb

fi·nal·ize ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz

finalized; finalizing

Synonyms of finalize next

transitive verb

: to put in final or finished form

soon my conclusion will be finalized—

D. D. Eisenhower

: to give final approval to

finalizing the papers prepared … by his staff—

Newsweek

finalization

ˌfī-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən

noun

Usage of Finalize

Finalize has been frequently castigated as an unnecessary neologism or as U.S. government gobbledygook. It appears to have first gained currency in Australia (where it has been acceptable all along) in the early 1920s. The U.S. Navy picked it up in the late 20s, and from there it came into widespread use. It is a standard formation (see -ize). Currently, it is most frequently used in government and business dealings; it usually is not found in belles-lettres.

Examples of finalize in a Sentence

They are finalizing their divorce this week. We bought our tickets and finalized our vacation plans.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Trump has nearly finalized his picks for his next Cabinet. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 Additional fencing near a bio-retention pond adjacent to the school’s electronic sign was installed last month and landscaping on the property is being finalized. —

Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024 Almost a year after Yoshinobu Yamamoto received a $50-million signing bonus, Snell will be paid $52 million up front, so long as the left-hander completes a physical examination to finalize his contract. —

Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 Politico said the deal had taken years to finalize. —

Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for finalize