finish 1 of 2

Definition of finishnext

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
Personally, Angela has been turning to history books, and just finished A Flower Traveled in My Blood, about the Dirty War in Argentina, the children stolen by the state’s paramilitary squads, and the women who fought to find them. Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026 The question is, will the new class of lawmakers finish what their predecessors started? Julie Watts, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
That finish led to the firing of coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, clearing the way for a new regime. Rod Beard, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026 But beyond finishes and amenities, there’s also an elusive quality that isn’t entirely under a developer’s control. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finish
Verb
  • The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract was not completed and nothing had been announced by the team.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Eight seconds later, Iribarne made the first of two free throws to complete the Wolverines’ scoring.
    Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Tesla signaled a major shift in its business as CEO Elon Musk told investors the company will end production of its longest-running premium electric vehicles.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • That lawsuit ended earlier this month after the immigrant detainee who filed the case agreed to be removed from the United States.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Contraceptives acting on spermatogenesis take a few weeks to kick in, and fertility takes a few weeks to return when a man stops using them.
    Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Either way, Mahomes’ reaction, and reportedly Belichick’s, doesn’t stop there.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Reigning semifinalist Westwood is a strong candidate for a better ending, too, returning most of its lineup.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Despite Powell's term as chairman ending, his position as a member of the Fed's Board of Governors doesn’t expire until 2028, NBC News noted.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Zelensky confirmed that discussions about a temporary halt in attacks on energy infrastructure took place during trilateral meetings between US, Ukrainian and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi last week.
    Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The dramatic halt may have been inevitable given how far and how fast metal prices had surged over the last year.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Crespi will also conclude regular-season play on Tuesday, before the Mission League tournament, with a home battle with Loyola.
    Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Washington County District Attorney's Office The FBI lab, which examined this evidence, concluded that the mud on Debe's car tire did not match the mud where her car was found.
    Sarah Prior, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The decision leaves intact a three-judge panel’s ruling that Habba’s appointment became unlawful once her 120-day interim term expired.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
  • As is often the case with media rights, the amount started lower than that, and with escalators, the value will eventually exceed the yearly $334 million when the 25-year deal expires.
    Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Banfield's at-times tense testimony comes after his attorney scrutinized the county's investigation into the defendant, arguing that officials, almost since the beginning, forced a theory that the husband had catfished and killed his wife, and ignored evidence that undermined that conclusion.
    OLIVIA DIAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Shortly after the conclusion of the Uplift tour, Slovak, who had struggled with addiction, died of a heroin overdose on June 25, 1988.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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