just finished lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just finished lunch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you have recently completed your lunch meal, often in casual conversation or informal writing. Example: "I can't talk right now; I just finished lunch and need a moment to gather my thoughts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

We had just finished lunch.

The New Yorker

He had just finished lunch.

The Washington Post

Fico has just finished lunch in the garden with friends.

The Guardian - Film

It's a Sunday and the Peshmerga have just finished lunch and their first tea.

The Washington Post

Payton had just finished lunch with Arnold Palmer when he learned that a vote had been taken.

The New York Times - Sports

He had just finished lunch and was relaxing in his truck with the windows rolled down.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

When we arrive for dinner, one exclusively male table is just finishing lunch and taking receipt of what appear to be minihamburger petit fours.

BBC

Söderström and her next-door neighbor, Eivy Albinsson, had just finished eating lunch in the cafeteria of an Ikea in Västerås, Sweden, when they headed downstairs to shop.

The Washington Post

Garcia stops at a small evangelical church, where a married couple has just finished serving lunch to families seated under tents in the parking lot.

The Washington Post

Updated at 10.28pm BST 10.03pm BST Duran Central Pharmacy We've just finished up lunch at Duran Central Pharmacy, a no-frills diner in town that is known for some of the best Mexican food in Albuquerque, at least according to our readers.

The Guardian - Travel

Fred Joseph, who had just finished eating lunch at the Village restaurant on Beverley Road, said he had collected $500 for the Haitian Center, while down the street a group of men sitting on a stoop said they had been approached several times by people seeking donations, but had not given yet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just finished lunch" to clearly indicate the recent completion of the midday meal in both spoken and written contexts. It conveys a sense of immediacy and is widely understood.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "just" in close proximity to other instances. Vary your sentence structure to prevent redundancy. Instead of saying "I just just finished lunch", try "I recently finished lunch".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just finished lunch" primarily functions as a declarative statement. It indicates that the action of finishing lunch has recently occurred. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing immediate past events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just finished lunch" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys the recent completion of lunch. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, avoid overuse of "just" for stylistic reasons. For a more formal setting, consider alternatives like "concluded lunch". Its purpose is primarily informative, setting the stage for further conversation or action. Top authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recently had lunch

Emphasizes the recency of the lunch event using "recently" instead of "just finished".

completed lunch a moment ago

Highlights the very recent completion using "a moment ago" to specify the short time frame.

ate lunch just now

Uses "ate" instead of "finished" and "just now" to convey immediate past action.

wrapped up lunch

Replaces "finished" with "wrapped up", suggesting the conclusion of the lunch period.

concluded lunch

Formal alternative using "concluded" instead of "finished".

done with lunch

Informal phrasing indicating the completion of lunch.

lunch is just over

Focuses on the state of lunch being recently over, rather than the act of finishing.

just had a midday meal

Replaces "lunch" with the more formal "midday meal".

i'm done eating lunch

Shifts focus to the speaker's state of being finished with the meal.

lunch was just completed

Passive voice construction focusing on the lunch itself being completed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "just finished lunch" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "concluded lunch" or "I have recently completed my midday meal".

What are some informal alternatives to "just finished lunch"?

Informal options include "done with lunch" or "ate lunch just now".

Is it grammatically correct to say "just finished lunch"?

Yes, "just finished lunch" is grammatically correct and commonly used in everyday language. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability.

What's the difference between "just finished lunch" and "had lunch"?

"Just finished lunch" implies the action was very recent, whereas "had lunch" simply indicates that you ate lunch at some point, without specifying the exact time.