ENGLISH
REFERENCE

finally

adv. time
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈfaɪnəɫi// UK //fˈaɪnəli// fi·nal·ly General-service

adv. after a long time or a lot of waiting. You use this when something you wanted or expected finally happens.

adv. after a long period of time or a series of events; at the end of a sequence.


SIMPLE

The bus finally arrived after twenty minutes.

CONTEXTUAL

After months of hard work and several delays, the team finally finished the project on Friday.

COMPLEX

The diplomat spent years negotiating with both sides before they finally reached a peace agreement that satisfied the major concerns of the local population.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English finally, fynaly, fynally, fynaliche, fynalliche, equivalent to final + -ly.

Usage

Typically placed before the main verb or at the beginning of a sentence to show a result.

Pitfall

I finally am hereI am finally hereWhen used with the verb 'to be', the adverb should follow the verb rather than precede it.

Idioms1 entry

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