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finish

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb finish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of finish are close, complete, conclude, end, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would close be a good substitute for finish?

The words close and finish can be used in similar contexts, but close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When can complete be used instead of finish?

The synonyms complete and finish are sometimes interchangeable, but complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to finish?

The meanings of conclude and finish largely overlap; however, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace finish?

Although the words end and finish have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can terminate take the place of finish?

The words terminate and finish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of finish
Verb
Wednesday, Edmonton fans had barely finished singing their Oh Canada anthem a capella (full-throated and lovely) when the lamp lit just 66 seconds into the game on Draisaitl’s snap shot in close, after Sergei Bobrovsky deflected but could not glove the prior shot. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025 Despite splitting time with Cooper McDonald, Deal finished tied for fifth in sacks in the league with 5.5. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
Noun
Baeza more than proved his entry into the Derby with a strong third-place finish. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025 With a clean matte finish and magnetic connectors for the Joy-Con (versus the snap-in functionality of the older ones), everything about Switch 2 feels sturdier, cleaner, and more premium. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for finish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finish
Verb
  • Dart completed 117 passes for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • The Orange County Transportation Authority, which oversees the rail corridor there, recently completed emergency repairs to a rock revetment that protects the tracks from coastal erosion.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • But since the spring legislative session ended, Ford has had joint meetings with cannabis and hemp operators in an attempt to reach some compromise.
    Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
  • Parks and Recreation ended more than a decade ago, but its seven seasons left behind countless meme formats to be recycled in perpetuity.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • On September 2, Border Force officers had stopped two women at London Stansted Airport.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • This move did not stop at regulation but was backed by public education campaigns and investment in local businesses producing biodegradable alternatives.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • On a more emotional level, the anticlimactic ending ushered in the conclusion of a 46-year career for coach Bob Babb.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 31 May 2025
  • However, there have still been some vocal fans who are upset with changes made from the original, including completely cutting a character and making a significant change to the original movie's ending.
    Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • That was after the pandemic lockdown brought concerts — and much of the world — shuddering to a halt in 2020 and much of 2021 (and before the COVID resurgence that followed).
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
  • Finding that the 1977 law Trump invoked to impose his sweeping tariffs does not actually give him the power to do so, the court ordered a permanent halt to the duties and barred any future modifications.
    Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Bowling Green concludes the regular season November 25 at UMass, the team’s only trip outside the region, though like the other 11 games is in the Eastern Time Zone.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • That opinion echoed what previous official inquiries had concluded.
    Sarah Bedford, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • According to court documents, the employee fraudulently created a new medical marijuana card for herself after her card obtained in 2023 expired, KELO reported.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • Most of the tax rates and breaks enacted in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term expire at the end of this year, and the bill would continue them.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • In its conclusion, the court ruled in favor of a permanent injunction on the tariff orders nationwide.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 30 May 2025
  • In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finish. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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