ultimately
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
after a long time or a complicated process.
at the end of a process, period of time, or series of events. Often functions as a disjunct to frame the finality of a conclusion.
Simple“The two companies talked for months, but the deal ultimately failed.”
In context“Although the negotiations were fraught with tension and several minor setbacks, the two parties ultimately reached a consensus that satisfied the shareholders.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to show the most important or basic fact of a situation.
at the most fundamental level; used to identify the primary or underlying reason, factor, or responsibility.
Simple“You can ask for advice, but you are ultimately responsible for your own choices.”
In context“While external market forces certainly played a role, the collapse of the firm was ultimately due to a lack of internal oversight and poor fiscal management.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
used to show the original word that a modern word comes from.
indicating the furthest traceable etymon or root from which a word is derived.
Simple“The English word 'salary' comes ultimately from the Latin word for salt.”
In context“The term is borrowed from French, though it derives ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to turn or to bend.”
Synonymsoriginallyderivationally
Usage ultimately better · ultimately fail · demand ultimately
“Ultimately, “we do not have enough information” to know whether histamines can worsen perimenopausal symptoms, says Voedisch.”
“But precisely because of that, I cannot close my eyes to developments that could harm them and ultimately destroy them,” she said.”
From ultimate + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.