finite

adjective fi·nite \ ˈfī-ˌnīt \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: finite in a Sentence

Definition of finite

1 a : having definite or definable limits

a finite number of possibilities

b : having a limited nature or existence

finite beings

2 : completely determinable in theory or in fact by counting, measurement, or thought

the finite velocity of light

3 a : less than an arbitrary positive integer and greater than the negative of that integer

b : having a finite number of elements

a finite set

4 : of, relating to, or being a verb or verb form that can function as a predicate or as the initial element of one and that is limited (as in tense, person, and number)

finite verbs such as "is" and "are"

—

finite

noun

—

finitely

adverb

—

finiteness

noun

See finite defined for English-language learners

See finite defined for kids

Examples of finite in a Sentence

a finite number of possibilities
the earth's finite supply of natural resources
the finite human life span
a finite verb such as “is” or “are”

Recent Examples of finite from the Web

The lacrosse landscape is expanding but nevertheless finite, and the top programs at some point tend to wind up on each other’s schedules.

— eddie timanus, USA TODAY, "NCAA men's lacrosse championship preview: Yale vs. Duke," 27 May 2018
Every science fiction author who creates galaxy sweeping civilizations must confront the fact that the speed of light is finite, and so the writer must conceive of some means for his or her characters to communicate and traverse the cosmos.

— ars staff, Ars Technica, "The Millennium Falcon is OK, but these pop culture ships make Ars hearts race," 26 May 2018
More than legitimate business is at risk: Sand is a finite natural resource which, like fossil fuels, takes centuries to form — and which humans are using at accelerating rates.

— Discover Magazine, "20 Things You Didn't Know About ... Sand," 18 May 2018
Two or three expansion mouths to feed is a lot more than one considering the resources available to expansion teams are finite.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Analysis: FC Cincinnati has much to gain by joining MLS in 2019 before Miami, Nashville," 12 May 2018
Resources are finite, and life is a burden on those resources.

— alex abad-santos, Vox, "Avengers: Infinity War feels like the beginning of a goodbye to Captain America," 9 May 2018
Exponential growth inside a finite system leads to collapse.

— nathaniel rich, The Atlantic, "The Novel That Asks, ‘What Went Wrong With Mankind?’," 11 May 2018
Perhaps the whole point of the vertical acceleration is to give the story a plot point that there is some finite range for the turbolasers on the Supremacy.

— rhett allain, WIRED, "Something's Off With the Turbolaser Shots in The Last Jedi," 11 May 2018
In several Arizona communities, that finite source of water is in danger of being overtapped.

— dustin gardiner, azcentral, "Arizona aquifers are in trouble, but lawmakers want fewer rules for pumping groundwater," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of finite

Middle English, borrowed from Latin fīnītus "specific, definite, having bounds or limits," from past participle of fīnīre "to mark out the boundaries, limit, put an end to, bring to a close" — more at ¹finish

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

finite Synonyms

FINITE Defined for English Language Learners

finite

adjective

Definition of finite for English Language Learners

: having limits : having a limited nature
grammar : of or relating to a verb form that shows action that takes place at a particular time (such as the past)

FINITE Defined for Kids

finite

adjective fi·nite \ ˈfī-ˌnīt \

Definition of finite for Students

: having definite limits

I was given a finite number of choices.

Word Root of finite

The Latin word finis, meaning “end” or “boundary,” gives us the root fin. Words from the Latin finis have something to do with ends or limits. Something final, such as the last chapter in a book, is the ending one. To confine is to put limits or boundaries around something. To finish something is to come to its end. Something finite has limits and happens only for a certain amount of time or in a certain space before it ends.