finally

adverb

fi·​nal·​ly ˈfī-nᵊl-ē How to pronounce finally (audio)
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

Examples of finally in a Sentence

we're making steady progress and may finally finish this project
Recent Examples on the Web After 26 years, an arrest has finally been made in connection with the murder of a young woman. Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024 The Nasdaq Composite index finally made a new all-time high on Friday, its first since July. Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 It’s finally achieved top-Sondheim status after being mid- to lower- for the longest time. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2024 The video resembles a classic Looney Tunes bit, with the mischievous duck going out of its way to bother a lemonade stand owner, repeatedly pestering him for grapes, only to ask for lemonade when the owner finally gives in. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for finally 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'finally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of finally was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near finally

Cite this Entry

“Finally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finally. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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