finalize something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finalize something" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate the completion or conclusion of a task or decision. Example: "We need to finalize the contract by the end of the week." Alternative expressions include "complete something" and "wrap up something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Our goal is to finalize something in the next few weeks," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In his testimony before Congress last month, Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen said he had been in a meeting in about that time frame when Trump Jr. came to Trump's office and confirmed a meeting had been finalized, something that was unusual for Trump Jr. to do, according to Cohen.

The Washington Post

Once their thinking time is over (approx. 10-20 minutes will do), say to them "Have you thought it through?" if they say yes and start saying things like "You're right," if they haven't then finalize it by saying something about your past when you felt down.

WikiHow

Instead, it'll apparently be around for Acer to pack onto their recently announced Z5600, which they say is built for 7. Of course, there's no guarantee this information is what it appears to be; maybe "availability" to Watkins means a date Microsoft has pledged to have finalized pricing or something.

TechCrunch

Refuse to wait until the last minute just in case something better comes along ― finalize your plans on Thursday.

HuffPost

His premise is thought provoking, and, given the season, something to keep in mind especially as you finalize the menu for your upcoming family gathering.

Huffington Post

On the flip side of this intention write something that finalizes it for you.

Huffington Post

The deal between Huxtable and the Getty, finalized last month, was "something of a surprise given the critic's close association with New York and the East Coast," Hawthorne writes.

Los Angeles Times

"It's not a bitter thing, but it's just, like, 'Ah shit, I'm doing something wrong.' " After six weeks and several hundred auditions, it was time for Jones and Feig to finalize the cast for "Other Space".

The New Yorker

8. Finalize your financial model.

Forbes

Diane Lane and Josh Brolin finalize their divorce.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional emails, this phrase is ideal for requesting a final decision on a project or contract.

Common error

Do not pair "finalize" with other completion verbs like "finish finalizing" or "finalize the end". Because "finalize" already implies reaching the absolute conclusion, these additions are redundant and clutter the sentence.

Linguistic Context

"Finalize something" acts as a transitive verb phrase where "finalize" is the head verb and "something" serves as the indefinite pronoun object. According to Ludwig, it functions as a marker for the transition from a developmental phase to a definitive one.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

73%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Social Media

0.5%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finalize something" is a robust and versatile English expression used to denote the official conclusion of a process. Ludwig AI indicates that while exact matches for this specific pronoun pairing are less frequent than specific objects (like "finalize the deal"), the structure is grammatically correct and widely used in professional journalism and instructional writing. Examples from Ludwig highlight its utility in diverse scenarios, from finishing a business model in Forbes to completing a divorce judgment in legal contexts. It remains a reliable choice for any writer needing to convey the act of bringing a project to its definitive end.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete the process

A more clinical or technical way to describe reaching the end of a procedure

seal the deal

More idiomatic and specific to completing a business transaction or agreement

conclude the arrangements

Higher formality, often used for travel, logistics, or formal events

bring to a close

More narrative and formal, often used for meetings or long-term projects

wrap up the details

Implies focusing on the minor remaining points of a task

settle the matter

Focuses on resolving a dispute or an undecided point

sign off on the plan

Specific to obtaining formal approval or authorization

iron out the specifics

Metaphorical, emphasizing the removal of small problems or inconsistencies

put the finishing touches on

Suggests the work is nearly done and only aesthetic or minor edits remain

close the loop

Business jargon emphasizing the completion of a communication or feedback cycle

FAQs

How to use "finalize something" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the last step of a plan, such as: "Our goal is to "finalize something" in the next few weeks regarding the new office space."

What can I say instead of "finalize something"?

Depending on your context, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/seal+the+deal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">seal the deal" for business or "<a href="/s/wrap+up+the+details" target="_blank" rel="alternative">wrap up the details" for more casual projects.

Is "finalize something" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. It is frequently found in publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post to describe the completion of legal settlements and corporate mergers.

What is the difference between "finalize something" and "complete something"?

While "<a href="/s/complete+something" target="_blank" rel="alternative">complete something" simply means to finish a task, "finalize something" often implies that the item was previously in a draft or undecided state and has now been officially settled.