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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
  • However, Reuters reports that Egyptian transport minister Kamel al-Wazir recently told a conference in Egypt that the planning stage for a bridge between Egypt and Saudi Arabia has been completed, and that his country is ready to implement it at any time.
    Adam Williams, New Atlas, 6 June 2025
  • The addition, which will supply A50 models to North American buyers, is expected to be completed this summer.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • In between plays, Waddle and former University of Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa were talking it up on the sidelines — laughing and chatting as the air horn blew, ending the day.
    Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • Strategically, Hamas has sought all along to use the hostages as a bargaining chip to constrain Israel and force it to end the war—and thereby guarantee Hamas’s own survival.
    Assaf Orion, Foreign Affairs, 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
  • Goldman Sachs and Nasdaq have both stopped requiring companies using them for an IPO to have diverse board members.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.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
  • The follow-up comment, which has received more than 200,000 likes, spurred debate over the new version’s ending, in which Nani (played by Sydney Elizebeth Agudong) moves to California for college and agrees to give up Lilo (Maia Kealoha) to the state, with the girl being raised by a neighbor.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 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
  • Your money can become temporarily or permanently inaccessible, payment systems can seize up, and the real economy can be brought to a halt.
    Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • When this period of rapid expansion concludes, Nvidia’s valuation will likely drop significantly.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • As the in-person portion of this year’s milestone edition concludes, Animayo continues to cement its reputation as a global hub for creative innovation, storytelling, and visual excellence.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 29 May 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 2018, The Karate Kid franchise made a comeback with two seasons of Cobra Kai on the now-defunct YouTube Red channel before it was acquired by Netflix, which in turn produced four more seasons that came to a conclusion earlier this year.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • In its conclusion, the court ruled in favor of a permanent injunction on the tariff orders nationwide.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 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 12 Jun. 2025.

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