be finished with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be finished with" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to complete or be done with something. You can use it to describe completing a task or ending a relationship, for example: "I will be finished with my project by tomorrow." "I am finished with my ex-boyfriend. I want to move on now." "He was finished with his meal, so he asked for the check." "We will be finished with the construction of our new house next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Let the nightmare be finished with, too.

The New Yorker

California voters may not be finished with their shake-up.

The New York Times

But then, who can be finished with Alice?

The New Yorker

Is finished at Chelsea and should be finished with England.

Independent

The pedestrian surfaces will be finished with gray concrete pavers.

The New Yorker

Can America please be finished with this man?

The Guardian - Opinion

He was relaxed, happy to be finished with his work for the day.

The New Yorker

Mr. Cavanaugh said the authority would be finished with its major construction projects within two years.

The New York Times

But Specter may not be finished with the N.F.L. His next potential target?

The New York Times

The other surfaces will be finished with a stucco type material.

The New York Times

Maybe they will be finished with their careers next time around.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be finished with" to clearly indicate that an activity, task, or relationship has come to an end. It can imply both completion and a desire to move on.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in the wrong tense. For instance, ensure you use "will be finished with" for future actions and "was finished with" for past actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be finished with" functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of an action, task, or the termination of a relationship. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in expressing a state of completion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be finished with" is a common and grammatically correct way to express completion or termination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While its register is generally neutral, more formal situations might call for alternatives like "complete" or "conclude". Use it to clearly indicate the end of an activity, task, or relationship, and be mindful of tense consistency for accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be done with

This alternative is very similar, emphasizing completion or cessation.

be through with

This emphasizes ending a connection or involvement.

conclude

This alternative is a more formal way of saying to bring to an end.

complete

This alternative focuses on the action of finishing something in order to be complete.

wrap up

This suggests finalizing or tidying up something.

cease involvement with

This alternative refers to ending an active participation or connection.

terminate

This is a formal term for ending something abruptly.

have completed

This alternative stresses the successful finishing of an action.

discontinue

This suggests stopping an activity or service.

put an end to

This highlights bringing something to a definitive halt.

FAQs

What does "be finished with" mean?

The phrase "be finished with" means to have completed something or to have ended a relationship or involvement with someone or something.

What can I say instead of "be finished with"?

You can use alternatives like "be done with", "be through with", or "complete" depending on the context.

How to use "be finished with" in a sentence?

You can say "I will "be finished with" my work by tomorrow" or "She is "be finished with" her studies next year".

Which is correct, "be finished with" or "being finished with"?

"Be finished with" is generally used as part of a future construction (e.g., will be finished) or in the passive voice. "Being finished with" is used in continuous tenses (e.g., I am being finished with the project now, as in, it is coming to a close).