finally

Etymology

It is formed from English final + -ly,^[2][3][4][5] written fynaly in the late 14th century.^[3] The Shorter Oxford sees the model of Old French finalement and Late Latin finaliter;^[6] the OED only compares them, recording the Latin adverb from the 6th century and the French one from the 13th, and also Portuguese finalmente from the 14th.^[2] The adjective is from Old French final (“final, last”) and directly from Late Latin fīnālis (“concluding, final”), from fīnis (“end”).^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Three senses appear together in Gower's Confessio Amantis, from before 1393: "in the end, after a long time", as the last in a series, and "as an ultimate aim".^[2] Etymonline has the late 14th century, "at the end",^[3] and Dictionary.com dates the word to 1325–75.^[7] The Middle English Dictionary quotes Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale, from about 1390, "But finally".^[5]

Semantic evolution

From the start the adverb could point to the end of a period of time or to the close of a series or a discourse.^[2][5] A stronger sense, "in a way that cannot be reversed, once and for all", is recorded before 1398, in Trevisa,^[2] and Etymonline has "completely, beyond recovery" from about 1400.^[3] Johnson (1755) gave just these two heads, "ultimately; lastly; in conclusion" and "completely; without recovery", the second with Davies's "finally rooted out".^[8] A last sense in the OED turns the adverb into an exclamation: since 1960 finally! has expressed joy or relief that something long awaited has happened.^[2] A use of the word itself as a noun, for a closing point in a speech or text, is recorded from 1845.^[2]

Timeline

• before 1393 – in the end, at last; as the last item; as an ultimate aim.^[2]
• before 1398 – once and for all, decisively.^[2] Etymonline dates the sense of completely, beyond recovery, to about 1400.^[3]
• 1845 – noun, a use of the word to introduce a last point.^[2]
• 1960 – interjection, expressing relief that something awaited has happened.^[2]

Meanings

Adverb

1. After a long time or delay; at last, eventually: The train pulled in finally at midnight.^[9][4][2]
2. As the last in a series; lastly, also introducing a last point in a speech or text: Finally, I should thank the volunteers.^[9][4][2]
3. In a way that cannot be changed; conclusively, once and for all: The dispute was settled finally in court.^[9][2]
4. In the last analysis; ultimately.^[4][8]

Interjection

1. Expressing joy or relief that something long awaited has happened: Finally! The bus is here.^[2]

Noun

1. A use of the word, especially to introduce a last point.^[2]

Related words

• final
• finale
• finish
• finite
• finality

Usage notes

The American regional form finely reflects a pronunciation with two syllables.^[2]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
6. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
8. ^ a b Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
9. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins