Finish — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈfi-nish/ fin·ish

Meaning & Definition of Finish

Finish (verb)

  1. to come to an end, terminate
  2. end
  3. to come to the end of a course, task, or undertaking

Finish (noun)

  1. something that completes or perfects
  2. the fine or decorative work required for a building or one of its parts
  3. a finishing material used in painting

Finish (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done

    "we should finish the painting of the house by tomorrow"

    similar: complete, consummate, finalize, perfect, polish, get through
    related: follow through (with), stick out, accomplish, achieve, effect, carry out, carry through, discharge, do, execute, fulfill, perform, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, machine, refine, round (off or out), shine, touch up
    near: abandon, desert, discontinue, drop, forsake, quit

  2. to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

    "we'll finish the concert before dark"

    similar: close, close out, complete, conclude, end, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up, put paid to (chiefly British), ring down the curtain (on)
    related: climax, crown, consummate, perfect, halt, stop, suspend
    opposite: begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

  3. to come to an end

    "the three-day race finished yesterday"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Finish (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the last part of a process or action

    "a pie-eating contest is the fair's traditional finish"

    similar: capper, close, closing, conclusion, consummation, end, endgame, ending, finale, finis, grand finale, homestretch, mop-up, windup, wrap-up
    related: acme, apex, capstone, climax, copestone, coup de grâce, crescendo, crown, culmination, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith, aftermath, anticlimax, coda, epilogue, postscript, shank, tag end, tail end
    opposite: baseline, beginning, dawn, day one, nascence, nascency, opening, start
    near: foreword, introduction, overture, preamble, preface, prelude, prologue

  2. the stopping of a process or activity

    "an all-out fight right to the finish"

    similar: arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, end, ending, expiration, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination
    related: mop-up, phaseout, abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension
    opposite: continuance, continuation
    near: extension, persistence, prolongation

Related Entry: Finish (off) (verb)

Finish (off) is a different word from Finish. The synonyms below are for finish (off), not for finish.

  1. as in flesh (out)

    similar: flesh (out), complement, complete, round (off or out), adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, better, enhance, improve, constitute, form, make up, enrich, perfect

Related Entry: Photo finish (noun)

Photo finish is a different word from Finish. The synonyms below are for photo finish, not for finish.

  1. as in squeaker

    similar: squeaker, cliff-hanger, hair-raiser, nail-biter, suspenser, thriller
    opposite: yawner, blowout

  2. as in seesaw, dead heat

    similar: dead heat, seesaw, round-robin, rubber, runoff, sudden death, classic, rally, volley, heat, round, run, set, marathon, race, ultramarathon, biathlon, decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon, derby, field day, gymkhana, open, outing, final, nightcap, play-off, semifinal, championship, national(s)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Finish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Finish:

Chiefly British: put paid to
complete, consummate, finalize, perfect, polish, close, close out, conclude, end, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up, break off, break up, cease, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, expire, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, wink (out), get through, ring down the curtain (on), bite the dust, capper, closing, conclusion, consummation, endgame, ending

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Finish

Words with the opposite meaning of Finish:

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, continue, hang on, persist, baseline, beginning, dawn, day one, nascence, nascency, opening, continuance, continuation

Related Words for Finish

follow through (with), stick out, accomplish, achieve, effect, carry out, carry through, discharge, do, execute, fulfill, perform, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, machine, refine, shine, touch up, climax, crown, suspend, desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over

Near Antonyms of Finish

abandon, desert, discontinue, drop, forsake, quit, draw out, extend, prolong, protract, foreword, introduction, overture, preamble, preface, prelude, prologue, extension, persistence, prolongation

Word Forms of Finish

Inflections: finished, finishing, finishes

Derived words: finisher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Finish

Middle English finisshen, borrowed from Anglo-French finiss-, stem of finir, going back to Latlin fīnīre "to mark out the boundaries, limit, put an end to, bring to a close," derivative of fīnis "boundary, limit, ending" final:1

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Finish

Words & Phrases Containing Finish

finish line, finish with, Garrison finish, photo finish, close/tight finish, fight to the finish, from start to finish

Frequently Asked Questions about Finish

What does "Finish" mean?

"Finish" means to come to an end, terminate. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to come to an end, terminate. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Finish"?

Other words for "Finish" include complete, consummate, finalize, perfect, polish, close, close out and conclude. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Finish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Finish"?

There are 137 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Finish". Common alternatives include complete, consummate, finalize, perfect, polish, close, close out, conclude, end and round (off or out).

What is the opposite of "Finish"?

Antonyms of "Finish" include begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, continue, hang on and persist. Near antonyms include abandon, desert, discontinue and drop.

How do you use "Finish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Finish" in a sentence: "we should finish the painting of the house by tomorrow"; "we'll finish the concert before dark"; "the three-day race finished yesterday".

Is "Finish" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Finish" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Finish" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Finish" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Finish"?

"Finish" is pronounced /ˈfi-nish/ and divided into syllables as fin·ish.