finish 1 of 2

finish

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb finish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of finish are close, complete, conclude, end, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would close be a good substitute for finish?

The words close and finish can be used in similar contexts, but close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When can complete be used instead of finish?

The synonyms complete and finish are sometimes interchangeable, but complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to finish?

The meanings of conclude and finish largely overlap; however, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace finish?

Although the words end and finish have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can terminate take the place of finish?

The words terminate and finish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of finish
Verb
Getting the Sunnyside Yard project started, let alone finished, would require the seamless cooperation of the city, the MTA, Amtrak, the governor, and the federal government. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025 The Kings went 27-24 in 51 games under Christie to finish ninth in the Western Conference. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
The mill embraces the beauty of imperfection and asymmetry in Chaos Aesthetics, a trend concept that favors expressive textures, unconventional finishes and rich tactile experiences. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 17 Apr. 2025 This light and airy style has a linen texture with a satin-like finish that makes these ideal for the season. Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for finish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finish
Verb
  • He was also empowered to achieve a lifestyle by design that is filled with adventure, including completing IRONMAN triathlons and diving with great white sharks.
    Kody Boye, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The final cost will be set once the design is completed, said Laura Swartz, the communications director for the Department of Finance.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Lawmakers can typically override a governor’s veto with another vote on the bill if the legislation receives two-thirds support from each chamber, though the Idaho Legislature ended this year’s regular legislative session early this month.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2025
  • What to know ahead of Tax Day deadline Tax season ends at midnight on Tuesday, April 15 – for most filers, at least.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • When the American money stopped flowing, the local soup kitchen closed and Ms. Musa went out searching for food.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The confrontation stopped and restarted as the man appeared to try to get the knife away from Perez over the fence.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As previously reported, the actor is set to reprise his role on the offshoot, and this bit of info from Harvey, tying Hardman to Ted’s Big Bad, certainly helps piece together the why and how, as does, possibly, the episode’s ending.
    Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Drake was also accused of refusing to identify a person who rewrote the ending of the film, and who was not a guild member.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But Putin had other ideas, tying a halt in hostilities to the West readmitting certain Russian banks into the West’s financial network.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • More than 1,000 clinical trials have come to a halt across the country and world, ranging from cardiovascular disease treatment to HIV prevention, to childhood and adult cancer treatment.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • China's tariff rate is now in triple digit territory, and who knows what happens in 90 days when this pause concludes.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The audience peaked with around 21.1M viewers as the nail-biting game, in which the Gators trailed for a majority of the time, was concluding.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The fate of president of basketball operations James Jones is not yet known, but his contract expires at the end of June, league sources said, and Ishbia is widely expected to consider new candidates for the role.
    Doug Haller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • With key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire at the end of this year, Washington is debating tax reform behind closed doors, and their decisions will reverberate through every corner of American life.
    Jack Salmon, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Across the music world, other international artists — even those with far more name recognition and resources — are coming to the same conclusion.
    Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Studies from New Zealand, Sweden, and elsewhere have come to similar conclusions, finding no negative effect of low levels of fluoride on IQ.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finish. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on finish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!