I. fi ‧ nal 1 S1 W1 AC /ˈfaɪn ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ final , ↑ semi-final , ↑ finalist , ↑ semi-finalist , ↑ finale , ↑ finality , ↑ finalization ; verb : ↑ finalize ; adverb : ↑ finally ; adjective : ↑ final ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: Latin finalis , from finis 'end' ]
1 . [only before noun] last in a series of actions, events, parts of a story etc:
The final episode will be shown tonight.
students preparing for their final examinations
Stone is filming the final instalment of his Vietnam trilogy.
the final stages in their relationship
They scored in the final minutes of the game.
The final whistle (=blown at the end of a game) was only seconds away when Redknapp equalised.
final demand British English (=the last bill you receive for money you owe before court action is taken against you)
2 . [only before noun] being the result at the end of a process:
the quality of the final product
Does anyone know the final score?
final result/outcome
I do not know what the final outcome will be.
3 . if a decision, offer, answer etc is final, it cannot or will not be changed:
The judge’s decision is final.
final decision/say/approval etc
We can advise the client, but in the end it is he who has the final say.
Is that your final answer?
and that’s final! (=used to say forcefully that you will not change your decision)
She’s not coming with us, and that’s final!
4 . [only before noun] happening at or near the end of an event or process SYN last :
In the final years of his life, Hervey achieved high office in the church.
5 . used to emphasize that the last thing in a series of events is very severe or damaging SYN ultimate
final indignity/humiliation
The vote of no confidence was the final humiliation for a government that had been clinging to office.
⇨ in the final analysis at ↑ analysis (4)
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THESAURUS
■ the one that comes at the end
▪ last [only before noun] happening or existing at the end, with no others after:
What time does the last train leave?
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Our house is the last one on the right.
▪ final [only before noun] last in a series of actions, events, parts of a story etc:
It’s the final game of the championship tomorrow.
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the final scene of the film
▪ closing [only before noun] used about the last part of a long period of time, or of an event, book etc that has been exciting or interesting:
the closing years of the twentieth century
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Barnes scored the winning goal in the closing minutes of the game.
▪ concluding [only before noun] used about the last part of a piece of writing, a speech, or an organized event, that ends it in a definite way:
the concluding section of the report
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the judge’s concluding remarks
▪ penultimate /peˈnʌltəmət, peˈnʌltɪmət, pə-/ [only before noun] the one before the last one:
the penultimate chapter
II. final 2 AC BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ final , ↑ semi-final , ↑ finalist , ↑ semi-finalist , ↑ finale , ↑ finality , ↑ finalization ; verb : ↑ finalize ; adverb : ↑ finally ; adjective : ↑ final ]
1 . the last and most important game, race, or set of games in a competition
be through to/reach the final
He’s through to the men’s tennis final for the first time.
the finals (=the last few games or races in a competition)
the NBA finals
2 . finals [plural] British English the set of examinations that students take at the end of their time at university SYN final exams
sit/take your finals
Anna sat her finals last summer.
3 . American English an important test that you take at the end of a particular class in high school or college
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ test a set of questions or practical activities, which are intended to find out how much someone knows about a subject or skill:
I have a chemistry test tomorrow.
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Did Lauren pass her driving test?
▪ exam ( also examination formal ) an important test that you do at the end of a course of study or class or at the end of the school year:
He’s upstairs, revising for an exam.
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When do you get your exam results?
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There’s a written examination at the end of the course.
▪ quiz American English a quick test that a teacher gives to a class, usually to check that students are learning the things they should be learning:
We have a math quiz every Monday.
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a pop quiz (=a quiz given by a teacher without any warning)
▪ finals British English the last exams that you take at the end of a British university course:
During my finals I was revising till 3 o'clock in the morning most days.
▪ final American English an important test that you take at the end of a particular class in high school or college:
The English final was pretty hard.
▪ midterm American English an important test that you take in the middle of a term, covering what you have learned in a particular class in high school or college:
He did badly in the midterm.
▪ oral exam ( also oral British English ) an exam in which you answer questions by speaking, instead of writing, for example to test how good you are at speaking a foreign language:
Nicky got an A in her Spanish oral.
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You can either take an oral exam or do a 25 page essay.
▪ practical British English an exam that tests your ability to do or make things, rather than your ability to write about them:
The chemistry practical is on Monday.
▪ mocks/mock exams British English informal tests that you take as practice before the official examinations:
She did well in the mocks.
▪ paper British English a set of printed questions used as an examination in a particular subject, or the answers people write:
The history paper was really difficult.
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The papers are marked by the other teachers.