ENGLISH
REFERENCE

finite

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfaɪˌnaɪt// UK //fˈaɪnaɪt// fi·nite Academic

adj. having a clear limit or end. You use this to describe things that will not last forever, like time or natural resources.

adj. having definite limits or a fixed size; not infinite. In linguistics, refers to a verb form that shows tense, person, and number, allowing it to serve as the main verb of a clause.


SIMPLE

The world has a finite amount of oil.

CONTEXTUAL

We only have a finite amount of time to finish this project before the deadline.

COMPLEX

While the human imagination may seem boundless, the physical resources required to manifest its creations are strictly finite and subject to the laws of thermodynamics.

Antonyms
Origin

The adjective is derived from Middle English fynyte, finit, from Latin fīnītus, perfect passive participle of fīniō (“to finish; to terminate”), from fīnis (“boundary”). The word displaced Old English ġeendodlīċ. The noun is derived from the adjective.

Usage

Often used in academic contexts to contrast with 'infinite'. When describing verbs, it indicates the word is marked for tense.

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