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View synonyms for finish

finish

[ fin-ish ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to bring (something) to an end or to completion; complete:

    to finish a novel; to finish breakfast.

    Synonyms: close, conclude, terminate

  2. to come to the end of (a course, period of time, etc.):

    to finish school.

  3. to use completely (often followed by up or off ):

    to finish up a can of paint; to finish off the rest of the milk.

  4. to overcome completely; destroy or kill (often followed by off ):

    This spray will finish off the cockroaches.

  5. to complete and perfect in detail; put the final touches on (sometimes followed by up ):

    He decided to finish his plan more carefully.

    She finished up a painting.

  6. to put a finish on (wood, metal, etc.):

    We finished the desk in antique red lacquer.

  7. to perfect (a person) in education, accomplishments, social graces, etc.
  8. to ready (livestock) for market by feeding a diet calculated to produce the desired weight.


verb (used without object)

  1. to come to an end:

    The course finishes in January.

  2. to complete a course, project, etc. (sometimes followed by up ):

    I finished before he did. It was nine o'clock when we finished up.

  3. (of livestock) to become fattened for market.

noun

  1. the end or conclusion; the final part or last stage.
  2. the end of a hunt, race, etc.:

    a close finish.

  3. a decisive ending:

    a fight to the finish.

  4. the quality of being finished or completed with smoothness, elegance, etc.:

    to admire the finish of one's writing.

  5. educational or social polish.
  6. the manner in which an object is perfected or finished in its preparation, or an effect imparted in finishing.
  7. the surface coating or texture of wood, metal, etc.
  8. something used or serving to finish, complete, or perfect a thing.
  9. woodwork or the like, especially in the interior of a building, not essential to the structure but used for purposes of ornament, neatness, etc.:

    a finish of black walnut.

  10. Also called finish coat,. a final coat of plaster or paint.
  11. a material for application in finishing.
  12. Animal Husbandry. the fat tissue of livestock.
  13. the flavor remaining in the mouth after a wine has been swallowed.

verb phrase

    1. to bring to completion:

      She's finished with her latest novel.

    2. to put aside, break all relations with, or reject finally:

      He's finished with football and will play only baseball now.

      After the way they treated us, we're finished with them.

finish

/ ˈfɪnɪʃ /

verb

  1. to bring to an end; complete, conclude, or stop
  2. intrsometimes foll byup to be at or come to the end; use up
  3. to bring to a desired or complete condition
  4. to put a particular surface texture on (wood, cloth, etc)
  5. often foll by off to destroy or defeat completely
  6. to train (a person) in social graces and talents
  7. intrfoll bywith
    1. to end a relationship or association
    2. to stop punishing a person

      I haven't finished with you yet!



noun

  1. the final or last stage or part; end
    1. the death, destruction, or absolute defeat of a person or one side in a conflict

      a fight to the finish

    2. the person, event, or thing that brings this about
    1. the surface texture or appearance of wood, cloth, etc

      a rough finish

    2. a preparation, such as varnish, used to produce such a texture
  2. a thing, event, etc, that completes
  3. completeness and high quality of workmanship
  4. refinement in social graces
  5. sport ability to sprint at the end of a race

    he has a good finish

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Other Words From

  • fin·ish·er noun
  • non·fin·ish·ing adjective noun
  • pre·fin·ish verb (used with object) noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of finish1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English finisshen, from Anglo-French, Middle French finiss-, long stem of finir, from Latin fīnīre “to end”; fine 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of finish1

C14: from Old French finir , from Latin fīnīre see fine 1

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Idioms and Phrases

see from soup to nuts (start to finish) ; in at the death (finish) .

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Synonym Study

See end 1.

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Example Sentences

Then, knit three stitches and finish by increasing another one.

Then, as we approach the finish, we use it all up with a glorious sprint.

An impressive variety of layouts allows buyers to choose the one that best suits their lifestyle, although there are some signature elements intrinsic to the developer’s vision, like the bespoke finishes that were selected to stand the test of time.

With these shelves, you will undoubtedly save space while creating a custom way to organize whether that be by color, brand, or finish.

For the optimal training experience, select one journey to watch live from start to finish.

I had been studying abroad in London, and came back to finish the semester at Tufts.

In 2008 and 2012, Huckabee and Santorum, respectively won the Iowa Caucus, but did not make it to the finish line.

“We would love to finish what we started some years ago,” Branson told journalists at a news conference with notable hesitancy.

Finish the sauce by putting the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat.

He said,  “I am breaking my heart over this story, and cannot bear to finish it.”

Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"

The mother's lips could not finish the charge she was about to put upon her innocent child.

He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.

I suppose I must take you down to see the old man, and then we'll go straight off to Rome, and finish the winter there.

She's been three times; but it's so sad; the story is a beautiful one, only she doesn't think he'll live to finish it.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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