final

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not to be altered or undone

   the judge's decision is final

2. 2
   adj

   conclusive in a process or progression

   the final answer

3. 3
   noun

   A final examination; a test or examination given at the end of a term or class; the test that concludes a class.

   It was tough cramming for those midterms and finals, staying up 72 hours straight hepped up on caffeine and pizza.

4. 4
   adj

   Last; ultimate.

   final solution; the final day of a school term

5. 5
   adj

   Conclusive; decisive.

   a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue

6. 6
   adj

   Word-final; occurring at the end of a word.

   Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

7. 7
   verb

   To qualify for the final round of a competition.

   Mike finalled in both the 400 meter and the 800 meter races.

8. 8
   adj

   occurring at or forming an end or termination

Etymology

From Middle English final, fynal, fynall, from Old French final, from Latin fīnālis (“of or relating to the end or to boundaries”), from fīnis (“end”); see fine. Replaced native English endly (“final”).