finalize

verb

ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce finalize (audio)
Definition of finalizenext
1
as in to finish
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done we're still finalizing our travel plans but hope to have them done by the end of the week

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to approve
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory the bank won't finalize the loan before Tuesday because of the holiday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 finalize That clock starts once legislation is finalized, and will extend beyond POS to enterprise resource planning (ERP), accounting and other business software. — Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The couple ultimately separated in 1989 and finalized their divorce in 1992. — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Initially, PAs returned as non-union employees while their contract was being finalized. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Nissan and Volvo are still finalizing their timeline for participating in the program. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finalize
  1. finish
  2. approve
  3. complete
  4. ratify
  5. confirm
Verb
  • Tyler Holton pitched a perfect 10th for his second save as the Tigers finished 7-2 on a three-city trip to the West Coast.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In Helaena’s room, Rhaenyra finds a tapestry Helaena had just finished sewing that predicts a dark and fiery end for Rhaenyra in the future.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • The state House approved the measure largely along party lines, with Democrats arguing Maryland cannot remain on the sidelines while Republicans redistrict elsewhere.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The regulations, which were approved in June, define hyperscale data centers as those that occupy more than 250,000 gross square feet or draw more than 75 megawatts of power from the electric grid.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of approve
Verb
  • The 23-year-old, who won his seventh Grand Slam title at January’s Australian Open to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist during a match at the Barcelona Open in April.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • And to complete your sleepscape, pair these pillows with a soft memory foam or hybrid mattress, and prepare for sweet dreams.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of complete
Verb
  • If ratified by voters, the amendment would give Marylanders the final say over any new congressional map through the constitutional amendment process.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But after the production assistants unions ratified their first contracts in early July as the shows were on hiatus, those guarantees disappeared.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of ratify
Verb
  • Orange County Health Care Agency officials have confirmed the county's first human West Nile case of 2026, which some medical experts believe could be one of the worst mosquito seasons on record.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, health officials in Michigan — which has the most cyclosporiasis cases — confirmed the first deaths linked to this outbreak in the United States.
    — Lauren Dunn, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of confirm

Browse Nearby Words

finalizations
finalize
finalized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finalize. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on finalize

Nglish: Translation of finalize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All