What does “finally” mean?
- 1
adverbafter a long time or a lot of waiting
After two hours, the bus finally arrived.
- 2
adverbused to introduce the last point or item in a list
Finally, I want to thank my parents.
Finally at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈfaɪnəli/ · FY-nuh-lee
How to use “finally” correctly
Use “finally” or “at last” when you waited a long time. Don’t use “at last” to introduce the last point of a list; use “finally” or “lastly”.
Common phrases with “finally”
- finally arrive
- finally decide
- and finally
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- at last
- eventually
- lastly
“finally” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- already adverbA2before now, or earlier than expected
- ever adverbA2at any time, used mostly in questions and negative sentences
- once adverbA2one time only
- recently adverbA2not long ago
- still adverbA2continuing until now and not finished
- suddenly adverbA2quickly and without warning
- yet adverbA2until now; used in questions and negatives
- again adverbA1one more time; another time