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Finish Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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finish

[ˈfɪnɪʃ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

complete

To bring to an end or to completion; complete.

Synonyms

accomplish, complete, conclude, end, finalize.

Examples of usage

  • Please finish your homework before dinner.
  • She finished the race in first place.
  • We need to finish the project by Friday.
  • The artist finished the painting last night.
  • I will finish my work before the deadline.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

  • In movies, finishing a story often brings a sense of closure, a moment when loose ends are tied up.
  • Various video games use 'finish' to signal the end of a level or quest, often rewarding players for their efforts.

Psychology

  • The concept of 'completion' can give a sense of accomplishment, positively affecting a person's motivation.
  • Researchers suggest that humans are inclined to feel satisfaction when a task is finished, reinforcing productivity.

Education

  • Teachers often encourage students to finish their assignments to develop discipline and responsibility.
  • In collaborative projects, finishing together promotes teamwork, allowing participants to celebrate collective success.

Sports

  • In races, the finish line marks the end of a competition, distinguishing winners and participants.
  • Athletes train to push themselves to finish strong, emphasizing the psychological aspect of closing out an event.

Origin of 'finish'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Old French word 'finir', meaning 'to end' or 'to complete'.
  • Tracing further back, it stems from the Latin 'finire', which means 'to set limits' or 'to limit'.

The word 'finish' originated from the Old French word 'finiss-', stem of 'finir', meaning 'to end', which in turn came from the Latin word 'finire', also meaning 'to end'. The sense of 'complete' began to be used in the late 14th century.

See also: fin, final, finance, finch, finial.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,408, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.