to finish
Third Person
finishes
Present Participle
finishing
Past Tense
finished
Past Participle
finished
1
to make something end
transitive
- He finished painting the walls and admired his work.
- The chef finished plating the dish and served it to the customers.
- The team finished the race in first place.
- They finished their work and went home.
- I will finish this task as soon as possible.
Synonyms:
2
to complete a race or competition in a specified position or rank
- She finished first in the swimming competition, winning a gold medal.
- They finished second in the relay race, just behind the leading team.
- Despite a strong start, he finished fifth in the marathon.
- Our team finished last in the soccer tournament, but we had a great time.
- The rookie driver surprised everyone by finishing sixth in the championship.
3
to end an activity or performance with one final action
- The concert will finish with a beautiful rendition of a Beethoven symphony.
- She decided to finish with a heartfelt thank-you to her supporters.
- I’ll finish with a summary of the main points we discussed today.
- The book finishes with an epilogue that ties up all the loose ends.
- The presentation finished with a short video that highlighted the key achievements.
4
to apply a final surface treatment or coating to something
transitive
- The carpenter finished the table with a smooth layer of varnish.
- After sanding the wood, they finished it with a glossy lacquer.
- The contractor finished the walls with a fresh coat of paint.
- She finished the painting by adding a protective sealant.
- The craftsman meticulously finished the ceramic vase to ensure it was smooth and shiny.
5
to complete the entire portion of a meal
transitive
- Even though the portions were large, she managed to finish her entire meal.
- The children were determined to finish their vegetables before dessert.
- Despite feeling full, she couldn't resist the tasty dish and decided to finish it.
- Please make sure to finish your lunch before heading out for the afternoon.
- We encouraged everyone to finish their dinner as there were delicious desserts waiting.
Synonyms:
6
to end a personal relationship or connection
- After years of mistrust, she decided to finish with him for good.
- He finally finished with the toxic friend, ready to move on.
- The constant arguments finally finished her with him.
- I’ve had enough; I’m finishing with him once and for all.
- He finished with her that night, feeling they had grown too far apart.