finally

adverb

fi·​nal·​ly ˈfī-nᵊl-ē 

ˈfīn-lē

1

: after a prolonged time : at the end of period of time

Two hours later, the train finally arrived.

He finally got around to calling.

I'm so happy to finally meet you!

It finally dawned on me what she'd meant.

2

a

: as the last act or occurrence in a series : in the end : eventually

After many attempts, they finally gave up.

"My career meandered all over the place and I finally settled on comedic acting. …"

—Cassandra Peterson

"He listened to the whole thing, very attentive, and finally he turned to the doctor and he said, 'I have a question.'"

—Russell Newman

b

: by way of conclusion : as the last point

… Finally, I'd like to thank the fans for their great support …

—Joe Girardi, quoted in New York Post

c

: in the end : ultimately

What finally matters is whether you're likely to drink enough of the organisms to make you sick.

—Peter Jaret

3

old-fashioned : in a final manner : in a way that does not allow change

I have reason for asking this question which you have answered so finally.

—Willa Cather

She said it so finally … that Mr. Pumblechook … could not protest.

—Charles Dickens

… the power to decide finally and conclusively upon all motions made in the course of legislative proceedings …

—John G. Carlisle

Synonyms of finally

• eventually
• someday

Examples of finally in a Sentence

we're making steady progress and may finally finish this project

Recent Examples on the Web

Six years after Remedy unleashed Control in 2019, the Finnish video game studio is finally ready to give us the sequel. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025

It's been a long time coming, but the Eras Tour documentary is finally here. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025

When Machado finally appeared on the balcony of Oslo’s Grand Hotel, hours after landing in Norway, she was greeted by Venezuelan exiles waving flags and singing the national anthem. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025

The number of wild Asiatic lions has risen 40% in five years, as decades-long conservation efforts finally bear fruit. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing finally

• the/his chickens are (finally) coming home to roost