finished

finished — adjective

1. no longer needing to be worked on because all the work is done; or so much of so

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

no longer needing to be worked on because all the work is done; or so much of something has been used that there is none left.

Example

Putri checked the painting one last time and decided it was finished.

be finished — work is complete

The finished bridge opened to traffic three months ahead of schedule.

the finished + noun — attributive use

Common collocations
  • finished product
  • finished work
  • completely finished
  • nearly finished
  • almost finished
Synonyms
  • complete

    more formal; 'finished' is common in everyday speech

  • done

    informal and interchangeable in most contexts

  • over

    used mainly for events and time periods, not objects

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be finished (with noun)

the finished + noun

Usage Note

When talking about things that have been used up (no milk, no petrol, no time), this sense is predicative only — you say 'the milk is finished', not 'the finished milk'. For completed work, both positions work: 'the finished painting' and 'the painting is finished' are both natural.

Common Mistakes

I have finished my homework finished.
My homework is finished.' or 'I have finished my homework.
do not repeat 'finished' in the same clause.

2. no longer doing or dealing with a particular task, activity, or person because y

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

no longer doing or dealing with a particular task, activity, or person because you have completed it or stopped using it.

Example

Are you finished with the scissors? I need to cut some paper.

finished with + object — asking to borrow

Kasia was finished cleaning the kitchen at half past nine.

was finished + -ing verb — predicative adjective

Common collocations
  • finished with
  • finished + -ing
  • nearly finished
  • almost finished
  • just finished
Synonyms
  • done

    more informal; 'Are you done with the laptop?' is very common in casual speech

  • through

    American English, interchangeable: 'I'm through with the dishes.'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be finished (with noun/-ing)

be finished + -ing verb

Usage Note

This sense is always predicative — you cannot say 'a finished person' to mean someone who has completed a task. The preposition 'with' is optional when the object is clear from context: 'I'm finished.' vs 'I'm finished with the laundry.'

Common Mistakes

I am finish cooking.
I am finished cooking.' or 'I have finished cooking.
after 'be', use 'finished' (past participle), not the base verb.

3. no longer able to continue or succeed in a particular area of life, usually afte

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

no longer able to continue or succeed in a particular area of life, usually after a failure or because of a serious problem.

Example

After the scandal, the politician was finished in public life.

be finished in + domain — ruined career

If we lose this match, our season is finished — we cannot reach the finals.

be finished — hopes are over

Common collocations
  • finished in politics
  • finished as a player
  • finished in business
  • finished for good
Synonyms
  • ruined

    stronger and more emotional; suggests complete destruction

  • washed-up

    informal; used for people whose career has ended

  • over

    focuses on the end of a period or event, not a person

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be finished (in/as + noun phrase)

Usage Note

Used only predicatively (you cannot say 'a finished politician' with this meaning). Common with 'in', 'as', or without any preposition. The tone is dramatic — it suggests something has reached a definite and hopeless end.

Common Mistakes

He is a finished man after losing his job.' (wrong sense — 'a finished man' suggests a perfected person, not a ruined one.)
He is finished after losing his job.
use predicative 'is finished' for this meaning.

4. already covered with a last layer of paint, wax, or varnish that makes the surfa

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

already covered with a last layer of paint, wax, or varnish that makes the surface ready to display or sell.

Example

The table arrived with a beautiful hand-rubbed finished surface.

finished surface — coating or treatment applied

This floor is made of pre-finished oak boards that need no sanding.

pre-finished — treated before installation

Common collocations
  • finished surface
  • finished product
  • finished goods
  • finished coat
  • finished floor
Synonyms
  • polished

    narrower — only for shiny surfaces, not paint or wax

  • varnished

    specific to wood treatment with varnish

  • coated

    general term for any layer applied to a surface

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

finished + noun (surface/wood/product)

Usage Note

Almost always attributive (before the noun) in this sense. 'Finished goods', 'finished product', and 'finished surface' are fixed collocations common in manufacturing. Do not confuse with sense 1 — 'finished product' here means the product has had its surface treatment, not just that it is complete.

5. brought to the highest possible level of quality or skill, so that nothing more

5.adjectiveC1
Definition

brought to the highest possible level of quality or skill, so that nothing more can be improved.

Example

The pianist gave a finished performance that moved the audience to tears.

finished performance — of the highest quality

Cole ran his hand over the finished craftsmanship of the antique cabinet, admiring the smooth surface.

Common collocations
  • finished performance
  • finished work
  • finished quality
  • finished technique
  • finished craftsmanship
Synonyms
  • polished

    common in everyday contexts; suggests smoothness and refinement

  • refined

    focuses on subtle improvement and elegance

  • consummate

    very formal; suggests perfect skill in every detail

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

finished + noun (performance/work/skill)

Usage Note

Formal register — this sense is found in art criticism, reviews, and formal praise. It is always attributive ('a finished performance', 'finished craftsmanship'). In everyday English, 'polished' or 'refined' are more common alternatives.

Common Mistakes

He is finished at playing piano.' (wrong structure.)
His piano playing has a finished quality.
do not use 'be finished' + -ing for this sense.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe the end of something, but their use differs by context and register. 'Done' is the most informal and general — you can say 'dinner is done', 'I am done with work', or 'the deal is done'. It works for tasks, food, and events. 'Finished' is slightly more formal and is the best choice when the end is deliberate and planned: 'a finished painting' suggests the artist decided it was complete, whereas 'a done painting' sounds odd. 'Completed' is the most formal and is preferred in official or technical contexts: 'the completed application form', 'the completed building'. 'Over' is used almost exclusively for events or time periods ('the game is over', 'summer is over') and cannot be used for objects or personal tasks ('the report is over' would mean the event of writing it, not the document itself). In everyday conversation, 'done' and 'finished' are largely interchangeable for sense 1, but 'finished' carries a stronger sense of finality — when you say 'the cake is finished', it implies nothing is left; 'the cake is done' only means it is ready.

finished ↗done ↗completedover ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • finished product
  • finished work
  • finished goods
  • finished surface

Adverbs

  • nearly finished
  • almost finished
  • just finished
  • completely finished
  • not quite finished

Phrases

  • finished product
  • finished goods
  • all finished

Prepositions

  • finished with
  • finished in
  • finished as

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Finished' comes from the verb 'finish', which entered English in the 14th century through Old French 'finiss-', the stem of 'finir' (to end). This French verb traces back to Latin 'finire', meaning 'to limit, set a boundary, or bring to an end', which itself comes from 'finis' (boundary, end, limit). The adjective 'finished' emerged in the late 16th century, first meaning 'brought to an end or conclusion', and later developed the sense of 'perfected' (18th century) and 'surface-coated' (19th century manufacturing terminology).