Meaning & use
finalize
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To make the last decisions about something so that it is complete and no more changes are expected.
Grammar: Takes an object: finalize the plan.
Patterns
- finalize something
- finalize something with someone
We need to finalize the guest list by Friday.
The committee finalized the budget after a long meeting.
She finalized her travel plans last night.
verbtransitivebusiness
To formally complete and sign an agreement or deal.
Grammar: Takes an object such as a deal or contract.
Patterns
- finalize a deal
The two firms finalized the merger on Monday.
They will finalize the contract once the lawyers approve it.
The couple finalized the purchase of the house in May.
verbtransitive
To put a draft, design or document into its finished version.
Grammar: Used for creative or written work: finalize the design.
Patterns
- finalize a design
The designer finalized the logo this morning.
I will finalize the report once I have the numbers.
The team finalized the schedule for the launch.
Word forms
| third person singular | finalizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | finalized |
| past participle | finalized |
| -ing form | finalizing |
Common combinations
- finalize a deal
- The company hopes to finalize the deal this week.
- finalize plans
- We are finalizing plans for the wedding.
- finalize the details
- Let's meet to finalize the details.
- finalize an agreement
- Both sides finalized an agreement after months of talks.
- finalize the schedule
- The coach finalized the schedule for the tournament.
Synonyms and how they differ
- complete
- Complete is the general word for finishing, while finalize stresses settling the last decisions.
- settle
- Settle often means agreeing on a matter after disagreement, whereas finalize means making it fixed and ready.
- conclude
- Conclude is formal and often used for talks or arguments coming to an end.
- wrap up
- Wrap up is informal and means to finish the remaining work.
Opposites
Word family
- final adjective
- coming at the end, or not open to change
- finalization noun
- the act of completing something
- finalist noun
- someone who reaches the last round of a contest
- finally adverb
- after a long time, or at last
- finality noun
- the quality of being unchangeable
Commonly confused: finalize or finalise?
finalize vs finalise
Finalise is the British spelling of the same verb; finalize is used in American English and also widely elsewhere.
Practice
The manager asked the team to ____ the report before it was sent to the client.
Choose one answer.
Finalize means to complete a document into its finished form, which suits a report about to be sent. Initiate means to start and the others mean to stop or delay.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “finalize”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.