1
a
: not to be altered or undone
all sales are final
b
: of or relating to a concluding court action or proceeding
final decree
2
: coming at the end : being the last in a series, process, or progress
the final chapter
final exams
3
: of or relating to the ultimate purpose or result of a process
our final goal
the final product
: something that is final: such as
a
: a deciding match, game, heat, or trial
—usually used in plural
b
: the last examination in a course
—often used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of final in a Sentence
Adjective
the final act of the play
They won their final four games.
in the final minutes of the game
Our last stop was Bangkok, but our final destination is Tokyo.
The plans are undergoing final review.
What was the final score?
The final product was not what we had expected.
Noun
He failed his history finals.
He failed his history final.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Its final lot was able to include items donated from Joaquin Phoenix, Lynne Ramsay and Emma Corrin.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Sometime in the early morning hours, Dearman returned a final time on foot.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The foundation board has dozens of trustees — Cheney among them — who offer nominations to a 12-member executive committee, which has the final say on each year’s winner of the Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Optimus Prime returned to give one final clue for the night.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
As part of the study, doctors still had final say on which treatment would be best for their patients.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
If that happens, there'd be a similar debate on the Senate side over what actually goes in the legislation – though the final result likely wouldn't include the changes some House lawmakers want because of the general consensus in the upper chamber.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The proposal will go to the City Council for final approval to rezone 62 acres of the project from industrial uses to allow for commercial developments.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, March 17, the star and her boyfriend actor Tom Holland were spotted at the finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
The Women’s Tennis Association announced that Saudi Arabia will host its next three finals tournaments, women executives lost 60 C-suite roles in 2023, and four CEOs share the decisions that made the difference in their careers.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The Huskies beat Southern California 80-73 in the other regional final on April 1.
Ms. Staley’s team will face North Carolina State, which is making its first appearance in the Final Four since 1998.
—Anne M. Peterson and Doug Feinberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
In fact, Bueckers was even named MVP of the tournament, in part due to her role helping her team win in the overtime final.
—Lizzy Briskin, SELF, 5 Apr. 2024
Arkansas and Kentucky advanced to Saturday's regional final at 5 p.m. at Walton Arena.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The San Diego/Texas winner advances to face the Chihuahua/Tacoma winner in the Western Conference finals.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Of the seven World Cup finals between 1982 and 2006, Italy played in three of them, winning two and losing on penalty kicks in the other.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Given Santa Barbara’s close geographical proximity to Los Angeles and calendar proximity to the final round of Oscars voting (which in 2025 will run from Feb. 11-18), the fest annually draws some of the biggest names in the Oscar race.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Its final lot was able to include items donated from Joaquin Phoenix, Lynne Ramsay and Emma Corrin.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Sometime in the early morning hours, Dearman returned a final time on foot.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The foundation board has dozens of trustees — Cheney among them — who offer nominations to a 12-member executive committee, which has the final say on each year’s winner of the Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Optimus Prime returned to give one final clue for the night.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
As part of the study, doctors still had final say on which treatment would be best for their patients.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
If that happens, there'd be a similar debate on the Senate side over what actually goes in the legislation – though the final result likely wouldn't include the changes some House lawmakers want because of the general consensus in the upper chamber.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The proposal will go to the City Council for final approval to rezone 62 acres of the project from industrial uses to allow for commercial developments.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
The following season, fellow Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school Grapevine defeated them in the regional finals.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, March 17, the star and her boyfriend actor Tom Holland were spotted at the finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
The Women’s Tennis Association announced that Saudi Arabia will host its next three finals tournaments, women executives lost 60 C-suite roles in 2023, and four CEOs share the decisions that made the difference in their careers.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The Huskies beat Southern California 80-73 in the other regional final on April 1.
Ms. Staley’s team will face North Carolina State, which is making its first appearance in the Final Four since 1998.
—Anne M. Peterson and Doug Feinberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
In fact, Bueckers was even named MVP of the tournament, in part due to her role helping her team win in the overtime final.
—Lizzy Briskin, SELF, 5 Apr. 2024
Arkansas and Kentucky advanced to Saturday's regional final at 5 p.m. at Walton Arena.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The San Diego/Texas winner advances to face the Chihuahua/Tacoma winner in the Western Conference finals.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Of the seven World Cup finals between 1982 and 2006, Italy played in three of them, winning two and losing on penalty kicks in the other.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'final.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near final
Cite this Entry
“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/final. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
final
2 of 2 noun
: something final: as
a
: the last match or game of a tournament
—usually used in plural
b
: the last examination in a course
—often used in plural
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