finishing

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The final stage of making or completing something, when the last details are done.

   Grammar: Uncountable: talk about the finishing of a job, not 'a finishing'.

   Patterns

   • the finishing of something
   • the finishing touches
   • during finishing

   The table is strong, but the finishing still needs work.

   They added the finishing touches to the cake just before the guests arrived.

   Good finishing makes a simple piece of furniture look expensive.

2. 2noununcountablesport

   In sports, the skill of scoring goals or points, especially by kicking or hitting accurately.

   Grammar: Used mainly in football and similar sports; no plural form.

   Patterns

   • good/bad finishing
   • finishing skills
   • improve your finishing

   His finishing was poor today, and he missed three easy chances.

   The coach made the team practice finishing for an hour.

   She has the best finishing in the league.

3. 3adjectivebefore a noun

   Coming last in a series or marking the end of an event.

   Grammar: Always used before a noun: the finishing line, the finishing kick.

   Patterns

   • the finishing line
   • a finishing move
   • the finishing stages

   The runners sprinted toward the finishing line.

   He saved his best shot for the finishing moments of the game.

Common combinations

finishing touches

She put the finishing touches on her essay.

finishing line

Only two runners crossed the finishing line.

finishing school

In the past, some wealthy families sent their daughters to a finishing school.

poor finishing

Poor finishing cost them the match.

the finishing stages

We are now in the finishing stages of the project.

Synonyms and how they differ

completion

Completion focuses on the fact of being fully done, while finishing often stresses the last careful details.

end

End is the general word for the final point; finishing is more about the activity of bringing something to that point.

Opposites

Word family

finish verb

to complete something or reach the end

finish noun

the end or last part of something

finished adjective

completed, or no longer able to continue

Commonly confused: finishing or finish?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “finishing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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