English Reference
Noun

finisher

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈfɪnɪʃɝ/ UK /fˈɪnɪʃɐ/ fin·ish·er UK spelling finishers Sports

n.a person who completes a race or a difficult task. You use this to describe someone who reaches the end, even if they do not win.

n.a competitor who successfully completes a race or sporting event. Often used to distinguish those who reach the finish line from those who drop out or fail to start.


SIMPLE

Every finisher in the marathon received a medal.

CONTEXTUAL

The race was so difficult that only half of the participants were recorded as official finishers.

COMPLEX

While the elite runners took the headlines, the crowd stayed to cheer for the final finisher who crossed the line just before sunset.

Usage

Commonly used in endurance sports like marathons, triathlons, or cycling races.

Did Chelsea become bad finishers, was it simply a run of bad luck or was it something else?

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

Players and fans of third-place finishers such as Scotland were also forced to hang around for several days before finding out they were, in fact, going home.

The Guardian· 22 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated