Meaning & use
ultimately
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
As the final result after a long process or a series of events.
Grammar: Often sits at the start or middle of a sentence: Ultimately, she left; it ultimately failed.
Patterns
- ultimately + verb
- Ultimately, + clause
The talks dragged on for months and ultimately collapsed.
He tried several careers before ultimately becoming a teacher.
The small design flaw ultimately cost the company millions.
adverbnot comparable
Used to introduce the most basic or important point after other factors are considered.
Grammar: Usually opens a clause to signal the main truth: Ultimately, it is your decision.
Patterns
- Ultimately, it depends on someone
Advice helps, but ultimately the decision is yours.
Ultimately, a good team matters more than a good plan.
The manager is ultimately responsible for the project's success.
Common combinations
- ultimately responsible
- The captain is ultimately responsible for the ship.
- ultimately fail
- The plan will ultimately fail without more funding.
- ultimately depend on
- Success will ultimately depend on public support.
- ultimately decide
- The board will ultimately decide who gets the job.
- ultimately lead to
- Small mistakes can ultimately lead to big problems.
Synonyms and how they differ
- eventually
- Eventually stresses that something happens after a delay, while ultimately stresses the final outcome or the deepest truth.
- finally
- Finally can mean the last in a list or after waiting, whereas ultimately suggests a conclusion reached after all considerations.
- fundamentally
- Fundamentally points to the basic nature of something and has no sense of time passing.
- in the end
- In the end is more casual and always about time, where ultimately can also introduce a key point.
Opposites
Word family
- ultimate adjective
- final, or the best of its kind
- ultimatum noun
- a final demand with a threat attached
- penultimate adjective
- second from last
Commonly confused: ultimately or eventually?
ultimately vs eventually
Eventually means after a delay, in time, while ultimately points to the final result or basic reason.
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? Many people gave advice, but ___ the choice was hers.
Choose one answer.
Ultimately introduces the most basic fact after other considerations. Initially and previously point to earlier times, which does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ultimately”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.