Meaning & use
finally
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Meaning
adverb
After a long time or delay, or as the last item in a series.
Grammar: Usually placed at the beginning or end of a clause, or before the main verb.
Patterns
- finally + verb
- finally, ...
- and finally
After hours of waiting, the train finally arrived.
First we visited the museum, then we had lunch, and finally we went shopping.
She finally finished her homework at midnight.
Common combinations
- finally arrive
- We finally arrived at the hotel after a long drive.
- finally finish
- He finally finished the project last week.
- and finally
- And finally, I'd like to thank my family.
- finally get
- She finally got her driver's license.
Synonyms and how they differ
- eventually
- Emphasizes the passage of time and often implies a gradual process; 'finally' often suggests relief after a delay.
- at last
- More emphatic and emotional; often used when something desirable happens after a long wait.
- lastly
- Used to introduce the last point in a list; 'finally' can also mean this but often implies delay.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: finally or lastly?
finally vs lastly
'Finally' often suggests relief after a delay; 'lastly' simply marks the last item in a list.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'finally' correctly?
Choose one answer.
B is correct because 'finally' introduces the last point in a list or sequence. An and D use 'finally' where no delay or sequence is implied. C places 'finally' awkwardly between 'is' and 'a doctor'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “finally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.