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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
Baltimore finished its trip by winning for only the second time in eight games. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 Key Facts Judge Arun Subramanian finished seating the jury of 12 jurors and six alternates Monday morning, before the trial turned to opening statements, in which both the prosecution and defense will lay out their cases. Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Noun
The finish is medium to long, with lingering notes of honey, rye spices, and toasted oak. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 The paint scheme of the No. 48 Chevrolet, that Bowman drove to a seventh-place finish in Phoenix last month, included more than a dozen rescue dogs. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for finish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finish
Verb
  • The franchise hired a law firm to assist with the sale proposals, which, according to the estate, are expected to be completed by the 2025-26 season.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • The game ended on a sacrifice fly at 1:17 a.m. Arkansas will throw junior right-hander Gage Wood against LSU junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
  • Trump has previously pushed Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the war, threatening to walk away if a deal becomes too difficult.
    SAMYA KULLAB, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Chemotherapy Chemotherapy agents, most commonly docetaxel, may be used when hormone treatments stop working and a person has metastatic CRPC.
    Matthew Wosnitzer, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025
  • Angelo must stop whoever’s coming for his family by searching his past hits for clues, and the list is very long.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • In a letter addressed to Bisignano, a group of GOP representatives said they were concerned regarding SSA staffing cuts and the ending of office leases.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • The ending isn’t a surprise—Alonso eventually re-signed with the Mets.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
  • People magazine similarly reported the relationship has come to a halt.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The Liberty have concluded their months-long victory lap that started with a trip down the Canyon of Heroes and ended among the world’s biggest pop-culture superstars at the Met Gala.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • Investigators later concluded that faulty mechanical systems, combined with weak oversight, were to blame.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The Big 12’s media rights agreement expires in the summer of 2031, which means the next contract likely will be signed and sealed in the spring of 2030 — during Yormark’s tenure.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
  • Perfumes and Essential Oils Not only can fragrances and essential oils expire, it’s recommended to keep them out of the bathroom entirely.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Following the conclusion of her testimony on Friday, both Cassie and her husband, Alex Fine, released statements on the trial via her attorney Douglas Wigdor.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 18 May 2025
  • There will also be updates about the conclusion of session of the Arkansas Legislature at the State Capitol.
    Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finish. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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