- 1[transitive, intransitive] to stop doing something or making something because it is complete finish (something) Haven't you finished your homework yet? She finished law school last year. I thought you'd never finish! I'll just finish this chapter, and then I'll come. a beautifully finished piece of furniture He put the finishing touches on his painting (= did the things that made it complete). finish doing something Be quiet! He hasn't finished speaking. + speech “And that was all,” she finished.
- 2[intransitive, transitive] to come to an end; to bring something to an end The play finished at 10:30. finish with something The symphony finishes with a flourish. finish something A cup of coffee finished the meal perfectly.
- 3[transitive] finish something (off/up) to eat, drink, or use what remains of something He finished off his drink with one large gulp. We might as well finish up the cake.
- 4[intransitive] to be in a particular state or position at the end of a race or a competition + adj. She was delighted to finish second. The dollar finished the day slightly down. + noun She was delighted to finish a close second. + adv./prep. He finished 12 seconds ahead of his closest rival.
- 5[transitive] finish somebody (off) (informal) to make someone so tired or impatient that they cannot do any more Climbing that hill really finished me off. A lecture from my parents now would just finish me. Phrasal Verbsfinish offfinish with
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NAmE//ˈfɪnɪʃ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they finish he / she / it finishes
past simple finished
-ing form finishing
Check pronunciation: finish