INDEX:
1. when something happens after a long time
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ WAIT
↑ HOPE
↑ FUTURE
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1. when something happens after a long time
▷ finally/eventually/in the end /ˈfaɪn ə l-i, ɪˈventʃuəli, ɪn ði ˈend/ [adverb]
after a long period of time, especially after a lot of difficulties or after a long delay :
▪ After a lot of questioning, James finally admitted he had taken the car.
▪ In the end, I decided that the best thing to do was to ask Billy for help.
▪ The plane eventually arrived at 6:30 - over three hours late.
▷ at last /ət ˈlɑːst ǁ -ˈlæst/ [adverb]
use this when something good happens after you have waited for it for a long time :
▪ I’m really glad that Ken’s found a job at last.
▪ At last the rain stopped and the players came back on the field.
at long last
after a very long time
▪ At long last he was able to see his family again.
▷ sooner or later /ˌsuːnər ɔːʳ ˈleɪtəʳ/ [adverb]
if something is going to happen sooner or later, it will certainly happen but you do not know exactly when :
▪ Sooner or later this would end up in the papers, and I would be out of a job.
▪ I’m sure Brian will turn up sooner or later.
▪ He is worried that sooner or later his business will fail.
▷ one day /ˈwʌn deɪ/ [adverb]
use this to say that something will happen at some time in the future, especially something that you hope will happen, although you do not know exactly when :
▪ They’re bound to find a cure for cancer one day.
▪ I knew that we would meet again one day.
▪ One day ordinary people will be able to travel in space.
▷ in time /ɪn ˈtaɪm/ [adverb]
after a particular period of time, especially after a gradual process of change or development :
▪ She started as an office junior, and in time became director of the whole company.
▪ Jarvis was a strange man, but in time I got to like him.
▷ end up /ˌend ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if someone or something ends up in a particular situation or condition, they eventually come to be in that situation or condition - use this especially about something bad that happens :
▪ Forbes ended up in prison for not paying his taxes.
▪ The sweater that my mum knitted ended up twice the size it should have been.
end up doing something
▪ We ended up having to postpone our vacation.
end up as
▪ Our chess game finally ended up as a draw.