• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Articles & lessons
    • Grammar & vocabulary lessons
    • IELTS preparation
    • British culture
    • All articles and lessons
  • About
  • Contact
Crown Academy of English

English lessons and resources




You are here: Home / English lessons / Difference between “finally”, “at last”, “lastly” and “in the end”

Difference between “finally”, “at last”, “lastly” and “in the end”

22nd May 2019 by Andrew

The following words and phrases are very similar:

finally
at last
lastly
in the end

But the meaning is in fact slightly different. Let’s look at each one in more detail.

finally – Use 1

“finally” presents the last element of a series or list.


Examples:
Mark: What do we need from the supermarket?
Jane: We need eggs, milk, sugar and finally, a frying pan.
frying pan

First, we need to rent an office. Then we need to buy some desks. Finally we need to recruit a secretary.

finally – Use 2

We use “finally” to express that one has been waiting a long time for something.

Position in a sentence

“finally” goes in the middle position of a sentence.

If the sentence has a main verb, then we put “finally” before the main verb.
Example: The bus finally arrived at midnight.

If the sentence has an auxiliary or modal verb, then we put “finally” after the auxiliary / modal verb and before the main verb.
Example: Andrew has finally bought a new car.
porsche

If the sentence has the verb “be” as a main verb (a linking verb), then we put “finally” after the verb “be”.
Example: The baby is finally asleep.

at last

“at last” also expresses that one has been waiting a long time for something. “at last” strongly expresses impatience or inconvenience at the long wait.

Position in a sentence

We can put “at last” at the beginning, middle or end position.

Examples:

Beginning position: At last Mark has passed his degree.
Middle position: Mark has at last passed his degree.
End position: Mark has passed his degree at last.

lastly

“lastly” describes something that comes at the end of a series or list. (This is the same as use 1 of “finally” as described above.)

Examples:
To start with, I drank a cup of coffee. Then I sat down. Lastly, I read the newspaper.
man reading newspaper

Firstly, the house is too expensive; secondly, it’s in bad condition; thirdly, the location is awful; and lastly, we don’t need a new house.

in the end

“in the end” describes a conclusion after a long process, a lot of problems or after a lot of discussion and analysis.

Examples:
The manager interviewed her 3 times, and in the end he offered her the job.

job interview
by franky242 | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We couldn’t decide between Paris, Rome or Madrid for our holidays. In the end, we chose Paris.

He isn’t a good driver but he passed his driving test in the end.

More English lessons

English lessons on our Youtube channel
Meaning and use of “to be used to”
QUIET or QUITE – Confusing English words
How to use DO and MAKE in English
Defining relative clauses & relative pronouns
List of all lessons

English video lesson

Filed Under: English lessons

More lessons

Money

“can afford something” | English vocabulary

If I can afford something, then I have enough money to buy it. The form is: subject + "can afford" + noun For example: If a Ferrari costs … [Read More...] about “can afford something” | English vocabulary

eggs

SOME and ANY – determiners

SOME and ANY are determiners. We use them before a noun. They express the amount or quantity of a noun. SOME and ANY are used differently for … [Read More...] about SOME and ANY – determiners

Dogs enjoying themselves

English vocabulary: Enjoy

In this vocabulary lesson, you will learn how to use the word "enjoy". Enjoy is a regular verb. It means to feel pleasure from something or to … [Read More...] about English vocabulary: Enjoy

either and neither

How to use either and neither – English lesson

In this lesson, you will learn the following things: Pronunciation of either There are 2 ways to pronounce "either": Pronunciation 1: … [Read More...] about How to use either and neither – English lesson

receptionist

Using the past form to describe the present or future

In the English language, usually we use a past tense to describe something in the past. Example: Jane: What did you do yesterday?(Question about … [Read More...] about Using the past form to describe the present or future

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Everaldo Rivelino Kosvoski says

    1st November 2019 at 2:46 pm

    I really love study whif You ! Thank you ! My name is Everaldo i from Brazil .

  2. Deepak jat says

    7th April 2020 at 10:59 am

    superb explaination.

  3. thirugnanam says

    25th August 2020 at 11:53 am

    Teaching skill is one of the best gift, it has given by nature 100% of you.

    your sound alwas good . I would like to develop an english communication skill by your crown acadamy. kindly suggest me.

    I am at 47 , I have been working in the private company in india. I am unable to speak english language due to less interest during childhood.

    Currently , I have faced lot of communication problem and losed opportunity due to poor english knowledge.

    I am getting more confident level after watched your clasess too.

  4. Venus says

    10th April 2021 at 2:11 am

    I am venus from Iran, your website is the best.

  5. Jane says

    7th September 2022 at 9:51 pm

    Lastly, I think lastly is a dumb word !

  6. Satish Kumar says

    12th November 2023 at 9:52 pm

    Lastly Take or In the End Take.

Primary Sidebar

Lessons

native english speaker

How to understand native English speakers

girl reading

How to improve your English vocabulary

peas on spoon

“a little” and “a few ” to describe quantity

doctor

The difference between practice and practise

Girl wearing headphones

Difference between hear and listen

handbag

compliment or complement





Footer

Follow us on social media

Crown Academy of English on YouTube Crown Academy of English on Twitter

Privacy policy

Privacy policy

Recent

  • 8 ways to say that something is FREE in English
  • English idioms and expressions related to CRIME
  • How to use either and neither – English lesson
  • Learn English vocabulary – Vegetables
  • English Idioms related to speed

Search