finite

adjective

fi·nite | \ ˈfī-ˌnīt

Definition of finite

1a : 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

3a : 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"

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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 on the Web

At age 40, Don has a finite window for his body to withstand peak performance. — Lindsay Crouse, New York Times, "This Man Expects to Run a 2:50 in the Boston Marathon on Monday," 12 Apr. 2018 But with oil resources finite and future prices uncertain, the need for Kuwait to prepare for the future is clear. — Eoghan Macguire, CNN, "Can Kuwait's delivery heroes inspire startup scene?," 2 June 2018 Crosshairs can pinpoint temperature readings to finite spots. — Andrew Northshield, Popular Mechanics, "Firefighter Reviews New Thermal-Imaging Camera," 21 Nov. 2018 Loyalty programs are widely used in the airline industry where a handful of carriers compete intensely for a finite group of passengers. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Lyft planning to introduce a rewards program for riders," 12 Nov. 2018 Having proved herself in television, she is excited by the challenge of working within the finite story structure of a film, with no untidy open-endedness. — David Kamp, WSJ, "Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a Powerhouse on the Rise," 5 Nov. 2018 The Paris climate goals mean the world has to stay within a finite carbon budget. — Jameelah Nasheed, Teen Vogue, "This Norwegian Teen Is Fighting Her Government on Arctic Oil Drilling," 4 Oct. 2018 To make the new bike, the company developed its own custom software that uses computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis to optimize tube shapes. — Fortune, "Want a Bike Fit for the Tour de France? It Will Cost You About $12,000," 6 July 2018 Still, making the most of the finite store of electrons will remain crucial to Formula E tactics. — Jack Ewing, New York Times, "Racing Series Helps Show the Way to a Battery-Powered Future," 5 July 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.