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Meaning & use

final

adjective, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈfaɪnəl/
US/ˈfaɪnəl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Coming last in a series, with nothing after it.

    Grammar: Usually sits before a noun: the final chapter.

    Patterns

    • the final step
    • the final stage of something

    Please read the final chapter before the next class.

    This is the final call for flight 204.

    We reached the final stage of the project last week.

  2. adjectiveafter a verb

    Settled for good and not open to change or argument.

    Grammar: Often follows be: the decision is final.

    Patterns

    • the decision is final

    The judge's ruling is final.

    No refunds, and that is final.

    The price is final; I cannot lower it.

  3. nouncountable

    The last and deciding game or round of a competition.

    Grammar: Often used with the: they reached the final.

    Patterns

    • reach the final
    • win the final

    Our school reached the final of the debate tournament.

    The final will be played on Sunday.

    She lost in the final but still won a medal.

  4. nouncountableAmerican

    A written or oral exam taken at the end of a course.

    Grammar: Often plural in American English: study for finals.

    Patterns

    • take a final
    • study for finals

    He stayed up all night studying for his chemistry final.

    Finals begin next Monday.

    I passed my math final with a B.

Word forms

pluralfinals

Common combinations

final decision
The committee will announce its final decision on Monday.
final result
The final result was a draw.
final exam
The final exam covers the whole semester.
final warning
The company issued a final warning to the employee.
in the final analysis
In the final analysis, price decided the matter.

Synonyms and how they differ

last
Last can mean most recent as well as end of a series, while final stresses that nothing follows.
ultimate
Ultimate suggests the furthest or most basic point, often at the end of a long process.
concluding
Concluding is more formal and usually describes parts of a speech or text.
definitive
Definitive means authoritative and complete, not simply last.

Opposites

firstinitialopening

Word family

finally adverb
at last, or in the end
finalist noun
a person in the last round of a contest
finalize verb
to complete and settle something
finality noun
the quality of being unchangeable

Commonly confused: final or last?

final vs last

Last is often used for the most recent thing, as in last week, but final means nothing comes after.

Practice

The manager said the offer was ___, so there was no point arguing. Which word fits best?

Make it your own

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