1
: after a prolonged time : at the end of period of time
Two hours later, the train finally arrived.
He finally got around to calling.
I'm so happy to finally meet you!
It finally dawned on me what she'd meant.
2
a
: as the last act or occurrence in a series : in the end : eventually
After many attempts, they finally gave up.
"My career meandered all over the place and I finally settled on comedic acting. …"—
Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson"He listened to the whole thing, very attentive, and finally he turned to the doctor and he said, 'I have a question.'"—Russell Newman
Russell Newman
b
: by way of conclusion : as the last point
"… Finally, I'd like to thank the fans for their great support …"—Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
c
: in the end : ultimately
What finally matters is whether you're likely to drink enough of the organisms to make you sick.—Peter Jaret
Peter Jaret3
old-fashioned
: in a final manner : in a way that does not allow change
I have reason for asking this question which you have answered so finally.—Willa Cather
Willa CatherShe said it so finally … that Mr. Pumblechook … could not protest.—Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens… the power to decide finally and conclusively upon all motions made in the course of legislative proceedings …—John G. Carlisle
John G. CarlisleSynonyms
Examples of finally in a Sentence
we're making steady progress and may finally finish this project
Recent Examples on the Web
Ten years of salvage work and accident forensics, however, finally pinpointed the cause as a breakdown in the forward machine guns’ interruptor—a timing device that pauses the firing of the bullets in the fraction of a second when the propeller is spinning in front of the gun barrel.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024
Boeing’s Starliner capsule with two astronauts aboard was finally launched into space Wednesday after a series of delays that have vexed the troubled aerospace giant.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
The fire truck was finally disabled in Old North Sacramento near Calvados Avenue and Fairfield Street around 9:43 p.m. Video shows at least a dozen police vehicles barricading the suspect inside.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 4 June 2024
Hendrick Motorsports submitted a waiver request early last week, and NASCAR finally announced its decision Tuesday morning.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for finally 
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024
Boeing’s Starliner capsule with two astronauts aboard was finally launched into space Wednesday after a series of delays that have vexed the troubled aerospace giant.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
The fire truck was finally disabled in Old North Sacramento near Calvados Avenue and Fairfield Street around 9:43 p.m. Video shows at least a dozen police vehicles barricading the suspect inside.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 4 June 2024
Hendrick Motorsports submitted a waiver request early last week, and NASCAR finally announced its decision Tuesday morning.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for finally
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'finally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near finally
Cite this Entry
“Finally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finally. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.
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