finish

finish — verb

1. to reach the point where a task, activity, or piece of work is entirely done, so

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to reach the point where a task, activity, or piece of work is entirely done, so that you stop working on it

Example

Mizuki finished her history essay just before the midnight deadline.

finish + noun phrase (direct object)

The construction crew finished painting the school gymnasium yesterday afternoon.

finish + gerund

Common collocations
  • finish work
  • finish a project
  • finish reading/writing
  • finish early
  • finish late
Synonyms
  • complete

    more formal than finish; often used for forms, documents, or structured tasks

  • wrap up

    informal, used in everyday conversation

  • conclude

    formal; often used for events, speeches, or written works

Antonyms
  • start

    to begin doing something

  • begin

    to commence an activity

Grammar Patterns

finish + noun phrase

finish + gerund

finish with + noun phrase

Usage Note

To finish a task implies that all parts are done — not simply that you have stopped. For a task you have stopped but not completed, use stop or pause instead.

Common Mistakes

I finished to read the book at midnight.
I finished reading the book at midnight.
'finish' takes a gerund (finish + -ing), not a to-infinitive.
She finished the meeting at 3 p.m.' (when she ended the meeting early).
She finished the meeting at 3 p.m.' (when all agenda items were covered).
Use 'end' or 'close' if you simply stopped before covering everything.

2. to stop happening or being done, because there is no more of something or the al

2.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to stop happening or being done, because there is no more of something or the allowed time has run out

Example

The school term finishes on June 22 and students leave for summer break.

finish + on [date] specifying when an event ends

The movie finishes with a shocking twist that nobody in the cinema expected.

Common collocations
  • finish at (time)
  • finish in (state/result)
  • finish with (something)
Synonyms
  • end

    very close in meaning; end can be transitive or intransitive

  • stop

    implies an interruption rather than natural conclusion

  • cease

    formal; suggests a permanent end

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

finish + adverb of time/place

finish + by/at/in/with

Usage Note

This sense is intransitive only — you cannot 'finish something' when you mean 'end it'. Use end or stop as transitive alternatives.

3. to take in or consume the very last bit of food, drink, or a supply, leaving non

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to take in or consume the very last bit of food, drink, or a supply, leaving none behind

Example

Naoko finished the bottle of milk and added it to the shopping list.

finish + consumable object (food/drink)

The kids finished all the pizza before the guests even arrived at the party.

Common collocations
  • finish one's meal
  • finish the bottle
  • finish (all) the food
  • finish the leftovers
Synonyms
  • consume

    more formal; used for both food and resources

  • eat up / drink up

    informal phrasal verbs, often used with children

  • use up

    emphasises that nothing remains

Antonyms
  • leave

    to not consume something

  • save

    to keep for later

Grammar Patterns

finish + noun phrase (food, drink, supply)

Common Mistakes

I finished all water' (when talking about a specific container).
I finished the bottle of water' or 'I finished all the water in the bottle.
The object should be the container or a specified quantity, not the substance alone.

4. to put a final layer of paint, varnish, wax, or polish onto a wooden surface to

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to put a final layer of paint, varnish, wax, or polish onto a wooden surface to protect it and give it a desired appearance

Example

The carpenter finished the oak table with a clear varnish to show the wood grain.

finish + object + with + coating material

Rodrigo finished the picture frame in a dark walnut stain before adding the glass.

finish + object + in + colour/stain

Common collocations
  • finish in varnish/paint/stain
  • finish with lacquer/wax/sealant
  • finish a surface
  • finish furniture
Synonyms
  • coat

    simpler synonym that focuses on the layer, not the completion

  • varnish

    specific to varnish as the coating material

  • seal

    emphasises protection rather than appearance

Grammar Patterns

finish + noun phrase + in/with + coating material

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice. The object is always the wooden item being treated, not the coating material itself.

Phrasal verbs

finish off

phrasal verb

To complete the last part of something, often in a decisive way.

Maya finished off her homework before dinner.

Did you finish off the project report yesterday?

finish up

phrasal verb

To complete the remaining part of an activity or task.

Brian finished up his chores and went outside.

We need to finish up the painting by noon.

finish with

phrasal verb

To stop using or dealing with something because you no longer need it.

Sara finished with the scissors and put them away.

Have you finished with the newspaper yet?

finish — noun

Word family

  • finished
    adjectiveA2
  • finishing
    adjectiveB1
  • finisher
    nounB2
  • unfinished
    adjectiveB1
  • finish line
    noun phraseB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Finish and complete both mean reaching the end of a task, but finish focuses on the act of stopping when there is nothing left to do, while complete emphasises that all parts are done and the result is whole. Complete is more formal and often appears with forms, applications, or structured projects ('complete the registration form'). End simply means to stop something, regardless of whether it is fully done ('end the meeting early' suggests stopping before all items are covered). Conclude is formal and suggests a planned, official ending, typical of events, speeches, or written works ('the speaker concluded her remarks'). Wrap up is informal and used in conversational contexts ('let's wrap up the discussion'). For everyday tasks such as eating, reading, or working, finish sounds most natural. For documents and formal submissions, complete is the better choice.

finish ↗complete ↗endconclude ↗wrap up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • from start to finish
  • fight to the finish
  • finish line
  • finish strong

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Finish comes from the Latin word finire, meaning 'to set a limit or boundary.' Finire itself comes from finis, the Latin word for 'end' or 'boundary.' The verb passed into Old French as finir, and then into Middle English as finen or finisshen before becoming modern English finish. The noun form developed alongside in the 14th century, referring to the end point itself. The wood-finishing sense (verb/4 and noun/2-3) emerged in the 1700s when craftsmen began using the word for the final surface treatment of furniture.