finalize
verb
fi·nal·ize
ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz 
finalized; finalizing
1
: to put in final or finished form
Soon my conclusion will be finalized.—
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower2
: to give final approval to
The proposed regulations have not been finalized by the … administration.—Mike Duncan
Mike Duncan
Usage of Finalize
Finalize was formerly castigated as an unnecessary neologism or as U.S. government jargon, but it is now broadly accepted. It appears to have first gained currency in Australia (where it has been acceptable all along) in the early 1920s. The U.S. Navy picked it up in the late 20s, and from there it came into widespread use. It is a standard formation (see -ize).
Examples of finalize in a Sentence
They are finalizing their divorce this week.
We bought our tickets and finalized our vacation plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kidman, who finalized her divorce with Urban in January, recently shared a throwback photo of her sporting her natural ringlets along with her curly-haired daughters in a Mother’s Day post.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 20 June 2026
In March 2025, former operators finalized an agreement with NorthStar to carry out decommissioning and restoration of the wider facility.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
The United States is currently projected to face Ivory Coast in the World Cup Round of 32 on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, though its opponent will not be official until FIFA finalizes the table of the eight best third-place teams.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
However, that change requires the Green Mountain Care Board, the state's main healthcare regulator, to go through a rulemaking process, which would not be finalized by the start of the coming hospital fiscal year in October, delaying the pricing reform implementation.
—Olivia Gieger Vtdigger, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for finalize
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Lara Walsh, InStyle, 20 June 2026
In March 2025, former operators finalized an agreement with NorthStar to carry out decommissioning and restoration of the wider facility.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
The United States is currently projected to face Ivory Coast in the World Cup Round of 32 on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, though its opponent will not be official until FIFA finalizes the table of the eight best third-place teams.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
However, that change requires the Green Mountain Care Board, the state's main healthcare regulator, to go through a rulemaking process, which would not be finalized by the start of the coming hospital fiscal year in October, delaying the pricing reform implementation.
—Olivia Gieger Vtdigger, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for finalize
Cite this Entry
“Finalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalize. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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