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

Recent Examples on the Web

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

When the suit was finally settled, in 2009, thirteen years after Cobell first filed it—by which time some three hundred thousand plaintiffs had joined her—it was known as Cobell v. Salazar, for Ken Salazar, Obama’s first Secretary. —Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024

For years, Brooks said no to the idea before finally relenting. —Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2024

With season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race officially over, fans finally know who won the crown. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2024

Now, there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel, which has prompted luxury behemoths to bet on in-person shopping experiences. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 29 Apr. 2024

Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, have finally settled their ongoing legal battle. —Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2024

This interaction leaves an expanding ball of light in its wake before the electron finally comes to rest. —Doug Cowen, Discover Magazine, 27 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