eventually
- 1In the end, especially after a long time or a series of delays, problems, or setbacks.
After years of false starts, the company eventually turned a profit.
The negotiations dragged on for months, but the two sides eventually reached an agreement.
UsageNot the same as possibly: eventually means in the end, often after a long time or some trouble.
Similarfinally, ultimately
Oppositeimmediately
- 2Possibly, potentially, or perhaps; expressing that something may happen rather than that it definitely will.
UsageNative speakers hear eventually as 'in the end', not 'maybe'. For that idea, say possibly or perhaps.
Similarpossibly, potentially, perhaps, maybe
Oppositedefinitely, certainly
Note
A false friend at work. Czech eventuálně and Swedish eventuellt mean 'possibly', and speakers of such languages carry that meaning into English. Native usage rejects it, and listeners are likely to hear the 'in the end' meaning instead. To them, "I will come eventually" promises an arrival at some later time, not a maybe.
Less common meaning
- 3For all terms beyond some point in a sequence, allowing only finitely many exceptions at the start.
Practice
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Origin
The word is simply "eventual" with "-ly" added. The nonstandard 'possibly' sense picked up influence from several European languages, among them Czech "eventuálně" and Swedish "eventuellt".