Finish Definition & Meaning
finish
- noun
- a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance); "the boat had a metallic finish"; "he applied a coat of a clear finish"; "when the finish is too thin it is difficult to apply evenly"
- the temporal end; the concluding time; "the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell"; "the market was up at the finish"; "they were playing better at the close of the season"
- a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art"--Joseph Conrad
- the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey); "a crowd assembled at the finish"; "he was nearly exhausted as their destination came into view"
- designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the winner is the team with the most points at the finish"
- the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict); "booze will be the finish of him"; "it was a fight to the finish"
- event whose occurrence ends something; "his death marked the ending of an era"; "when these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show"
- (wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed); "the wine has a nutty flavor and a pleasant finish"
- the act of finishing; "his best finish in a major tournament was third"; "the speaker's finishing was greeted with applause"
- verb
- come or bring to a finish or an end; "He finished the dishes"; "She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree"; "The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours"
- finally be or do something; "He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart"; "he wound up being unemployed and living at home again"
- have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical; "the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed"; "Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other"; "My property ends by the bushes"; "The symphony ends in a pianissimo"
- provide with a finish; "The carpenter finished the table beautifully"; "this shirt is not finished properly"
- finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table; "She polished off the remaining potatoes"
- cause to finish a relationship with somebody; "That finished me with Mary"
"Finish" in song lyrics
See how finish is used in real songs:
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"Was put here with a task to finish"
3 Melancholy Gypsies — Young Man -
"We stick around and finish"
504 Boyz — If You Real, Keep it Real -
"Know your limits, Grimace, you can't finish"
7L & Esoteric — Mercy Killing
Words that rhyme with finish
Usage tips for "finish"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "finish" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for finish to find words that pair well.