Finish (verb) — to come to an end; to complete a task or activity. Finish (noun) — the end of a race or process; the surface quality of a material. Example: Have you finished the homework yet?
What Does Finish Mean?
Finish comes from the Old French finir and the Latin finire, meaning "to limit" or "to end", from finis (end, boundary). The same root gives English final, finite, define, and infinite. The word entered English in the 14th century and quickly became one of the most frequently used verbs in the language.
As a verb, finish describes the act of completing something or reaching the natural end of an activity. It is used for tasks ('finish the report'), meals ('finish your dinner'), events ('the concert finishes at ten'), and processes ('the paint finishes drying after two hours'). It is always followed by a gerund — never by a to-infinitive — when another verb follows directly: finish doing, not finish to do.
As a noun, finish has two distinct meanings: (1) the conclusion or end point of a race, competition, or process ('a photo finish', 'from start to finish'); and (2) the final surface quality of an object ('a gloss finish', 'a smooth finish on the woodwork'). Understanding both uses will help you read and write naturally in English. See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “finish” for more examples.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level / Usage note |
|---|---|
| Have you finished the homework yet? | A2 — present perfect question, everyday context |
| She finished her coffee and put the cup in the sink. | B1 — past simple narrative, finish + noun object |
| I need to finish writing the report before the meeting starts. | B1 — finish + gerund, time clause |
| The two runners crossed the line together, making it the closest finish of the season. | B2 — finish as noun in a sporting context |
| Having finished her doctoral thesis, she allowed herself a well-deserved rest. | C1 — perfect participle clause, formal register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| finish a task | He stayed late to finish the task before the deadline. |
| finish school / university | She finished university last summer and started her first job. |
| finish work | What time do you usually finish work? |
| finish a meal | Please finish your meal before leaving the table. |
| finish a race | Despite a twisted ankle, he finished the race in third place. |
| photo finish | The judges had to review the photo finish to decide the winner. |
| close finish | It was an incredibly close finish — only a second separated the top three. |
| from start to finish | The project ran smoothly from start to finish. |
| finish off | She finished off the last piece of cake and closed the box. |
| finish up | Let's finish up this meeting and get back to our desks. |
Usage Notes
Key Grammar Points
Finish + gerund: When finish is followed by another verb, always use the -ing form. "Have you finished writing?" is correct; "Have you finished to write?" is not.
Finish vs end vs complete: End is neutral — it simply marks a stopping point ('The lesson ends at three'). Finish implies a task or activity has been concluded ('I've finished the lesson plan'). Complete stresses that every part has been done without omission ('Please complete the form').
Finish as adjective (be finished): "I'm finished" means "I have completed my work" in British English. It can also mean exhausted or even ruined in context ('After that scandal, his career was finished'). Be careful — in American English "I'm finished" can also simply mean "I have completed eating".
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I finished to do my homework an hour ago.
I finished doing my homework an hour ago. (finish + gerund, not infinitive)
Did you finish the exercise yet?
Have you finished the exercise yet? (present perfect with yet, not past simple)
She made a finish of the project on time.
She finished the project on time. (use the verb directly, not make a finish)
Related Words
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (verb):
Antonyms (verb):
Practise This Word
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Frequently Asked Questions about “finish”
What does finish mean in English?
Finish means to bring something to its end or to reach the conclusion of a task, activity, or event. As a verb: 'She finished the report.' As a noun it refers to the end point ('a photo finish') or the surface quality of a material ('a gloss finish'). It is one of the most common verbs in everyday English.
Is finish followed by a gerund or an infinitive?
Finish is always followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), never by a to-infinitive. Correct: 'Have you finished writing the email?' Incorrect: 'Have you finished to write the email?' This is one of the most common mistakes made by ESL learners.
What is the difference between finish and end?
Both words mean to come to a conclusion, but finish usually implies that a task or process has been completed fully ('I've finished my homework'), while end simply marks a stopping point ('The film ends at nine'). You finish a job; a film or a meeting ends (or finishes).
What is the difference between finish and complete?
Complete emphasises that every part of something has been done — nothing is missing. Finish is more neutral and simply means to stop or reach the end. You would say 'complete a form' (fill in every field) or 'finish a form' (stop working on it). In many contexts the two words are interchangeable.
How do you use finish as a noun?
As a noun, finish refers to: (1) the end of a race or competition ('a close finish', 'a photo finish'); (2) the final appearance or texture of a surface ('a matt finish', 'a lacquer finish'); (3) the end of any process ('from start to finish'). It is always singular in senses 1 and 3, and can vary in sense 2.
What are common collocations with finish?
Common verb + noun collocations include: finish a task, finish a race, finish school, finish work, finish a meal. Adjective + noun: close finish, photo finish, smooth finish, fine finish. Phrase: from start to finish. These collocations are essential for natural-sounding English.
What is the past tense of finish?
Finish is a regular verb. The past simple is finished, and the past participle is also finished. Examples: 'She finished the project yesterday.' / 'Have you finished yet?' The third-person singular present is finishes: 'He finishes work at five.'
What is the origin of the word finish?
Finish comes from the Old French 'finiss-', the stem of 'finir', meaning 'to end', which itself derives from the Latin 'finire' (to limit, to end) from 'finis' (end, boundary). The same Latin root gives English words such as final, finite, define, and infinite. It entered English in the 14th century.
Can finish be used in the passive voice?
Yes. Finish is commonly used in the passive: 'The report has been finished.' / 'The building was finished on schedule.' In the passive, be finished can also mean exhausted or ruined: 'After that fall, her career was finished.' Context makes the meaning clear.
How can I practise using finish in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise finish in context. Flash Cards help you memorise finish alongside related forms (finished, finishing, finishes). You can also practise by writing five sentences about tasks you finished today — this reinforces the gerund pattern naturally.