finished eating

USAGE SUMMARY

"finished eating" is correct and is used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the conclusion of a meal or snack. For example, "The girls had finished eating and were ready for dessert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We finished eating; still no Mac.

The New York Times

By now, everyone has finished eating.

The Guardian

By nine, everyone had finished eating.

The New York Times

A man washed his hands after he finished eating.

The New York Times

As the argument continued, I quietly finished eating.

The New Yorker

When they'd finished eating, Sterne grabbed for the bill.

The New Yorker

All before we had finished eating our pig's feet.

The New Yorker

The crowd finished eating and filed out into the rain.

The New York Times

Another day we'd just finished eating in the canteen.

The Guardian

They had just finished eating dinner at T.G.I.

The New York Times - Magazine

Who finished eating fast enough to get seconds before the food ran out?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "finished eating" to clearly indicate the completion of a meal, allowing you to transition smoothly to the next activity or topic in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses when describing the action. For example, instead of saying "I am finished eating yesterday", use the correct past tense: "I "finished eating yesterday"."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished eating" functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of the act of consuming food. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and examples show it used to describe the end of a meal or snack.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

20%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "finished eating" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the completion of a meal, as validated by Ludwig. With a wide range of usage examples found across various sources, from news articles to wikis, it serves as a versatile expression suited for both formal and informal communication. Though alternatives like "done eating" exist, "finished eating" remains a reliable and easily understood option, making it a staple in everyday language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

done eating

A more concise and informal way of expressing the same idea.

had finished their meal

Adds specificity by indicating possession of the meal and using the past perfect tense.

was done with the meal

Similar to 'done eating', but emphasizes being finished with the entire meal experience.

completed the meal

Focuses on the meal itself being completed, rather than the act of eating.

finished with dinner

Specifies that the meal was dinner, making it more context-specific.

concluded eating

Uses a more formal verb to indicate the end of the eating process.

wrapped up eating

Implies a sense of finality or completion to the meal.

no longer eating

Emphasizes the cessation of the eating action.

cleared their plates

Focuses on the action of removing plates as a sign that eating is finished.

ceased eating

A more formal and less common way to say 'stopped eating'.

FAQs

How can I use "finished eating" in a sentence?

"Finished eating" indicates the completion of a meal. For example: "After we "finished eating", we went for a walk."

What are some alternatives to saying "finished eating"?

You can use phrases like "completed the meal", "done eating", or "had finished their meal" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am finished eating"?

Yes, "I am "finished eating"" is grammatically correct, but it's often shortened to "I'm "finished eating"". Both forms are widely accepted.

What's the difference between "finished eating" and "done eating"?

While both phrases convey the same meaning, "done eating" is generally considered more informal than ""finished eating"". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.