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. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. a thing, event, etc, that completes
5. completeness and high quality of workmanship
6. refinement in social graces
7. sport ability to sprint at the end of a race

   he has a good finish

Other Words From

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of finish¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

Synonym Study

See end ¹.

Example Sentences

Shaena Brew, who broke her ankle last December, looked healthy and confident, finishing with 20 points.

From Los Angeles Times

Crew came back to finish the filming after they realised it might help Hutchins' family.

From BBC

A new ending to “Popular” allows Grande to light up the screen, twirling and kicking to the finish line of one of the musical’s most adored cuts.

From Salon

The UK Labour government has also said it is exploring ways to improve the effectiveness of a scheme that allows foreign nationals leave prisons in England and Wales before their sentence is finished.

From BBC

He finished his rookie year by scoring his last goal in the first period of the Kings’ season-ending playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accomplishment
• defeat
• ending
• finale