final

SayFY-nuhl/ˈfaɪn(ə)l/UK/ˈfaɪnl̩/

Noun pluralfinals

9 meanings of final

1
lastadjective
Coming at the end of a series, process, word, or other sequence; last, with nothing following.
The final chapter jumps ahead twenty years to show the two friends as grandparents.
Passengers boarded the final train of the night.
UsageUsually before a noun: the final chapter, the final whistle. In the decision is final, it means settled instead.
Similarlast, closing, concluding, ultimate
Oppositefirst, initial, opening
Note
Milton stretches it to what comes in the end in Samson Agonistes (1671): "Yet despair not of his final pardon."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
John Milton wrote Samson Agonistes, first published in 1671. en.wikisource.org
The quoted words occur in Samson Agonistes, spoken by Samson; the excerpt capitalizes the original lowercase yet. en.wikisource.org
2
last matchnouncountable
The closing round, game, or match of a competition, which determines the winner.
The two top seeds advanced to the final after dominating their semifinals.
Tickets for the championship final sold out within hours.
UsageTeams reach, play in or win the final; the rounds before it are quarterfinals and semifinals.
Similardecider, showdown
Note
Sport counts down to it: quarterfinals, then semifinals, then the final, where the last contestants meet and a winner is decided. The noun also gave sports talk its colloquial verb.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Quarterfinals precede semifinals, followed by a final that determines the competition winner. itftennis.com
3
decisiveadjective
Putting an end to discussion or dispute; conclusive and not open to change.
The board's decision is final and cannot be overturned.
Once the contract is signed, the terms become final.
UsageOften after a verb: the decision is final. And that's final ends an argument.
Similarconclusive, definitive, binding, irrevocable, decisive
Oppositeprovisional, tentative
Note
Here the end is a matter of authority rather than order. The final train is merely the last one; a final decision is the one that cannot be reopened. An older idiom speaks of bringing a contest to a final issue, meaning a settled outcome.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The older expression 'bring the contest to a final issue' meant bringing it to a settled outcome. gutenberg.org

Less common meanings

4
end-of-course testnouncountable
An examination at the end of a course or school term, or one at the end of a university degree that decides its result, often in the plural.
Students crammed in the library the night before their chemistry final.
The professor scheduled the final for the last week of the semester.
UsageYou study for, take or pass a final; plural finals often pairs with midterms.
Similarexam, examination, test
Note
In Canada, the US and the Philippines, a final is the exam that closes a single course. Students speak of their finals as they speak of their midterms, and the two words travel together: The Washington Post in 2005 recalled cramming "for those midterms and finals." In British university talk the same plural names something weightier: the examinations that decide a whole degree.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
The Washington Post published the cited passage in 2005. en.wiktionary.org
The cited passage recalls cramming and contains the exact words 'for those midterms and finals.' en.wiktionary.org
5
qualifyverbcolloquialintransitive
To advance far enough in a competition to compete in its deciding round.
Only the top eight swimmers final in this event.
He finaled in three events at the national championships.
UsageSpelled finaled, finaling in American English and finalled, finalling in British.
Similarqualify
Note
Sports talk made a verb of the noun, and swimming coverage uses it freely: an athlete finaled in the 200 fly, or, in tiered meets, A finaled or B finaled. It is colloquial; Harry Pearson's 2011 Guardian piece teases finalled as one of sport's verbed nouns.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
Swimming coverage attests finaled in the 200 fly. swimmingworldmagazine.com
Swimming coverage attests A finaled and B finaled. en.wiktionary.org
Harry Pearson's 2011 Guardian article satirizes finalled. theguardian.com
6
adjective
Relating to the end or purpose to be achieved; concerned with the ultimate aim in view.
7
adjective
In grammar, expressing purpose, as in a clause that states why an action is performed.
8
noun
In the analysis of Chinese and similar languages, the part of a syllable after the initial consonant, made up of an optional medial glide and the rime.
9
noun
In Gregorian chant, the main note of a mode, on which a melody in that mode normally ends.

Practice

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Origin

Latin fīnis ("end") gave fīnālis ("relating to the end or to boundaries"), which passed through Old French final into Middle English as final. It took the place of the native English word endly.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Latin fīnis means “end” and gave rise to fīnālis. en.wiktionary.org
Latin fīnālis means “relating to the end or to boundaries”. en.wiktionary.org
Final entered Middle English through Old French final, from Latin fīnālis. en.wiktionary.org
Final replaced the native English word endly. en.wiktionary.org