only just finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only just finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been completed very recently, often implying a sense of immediacy. Example: "I only just finished my homework before dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I only just finished it so I am very nervous.

The Guardian - Film

Deans had only just finished dealing with another unwelcome distraction.

The Guardian - Sport

Zhang Yimou has only just finished seducing us with his gorgeous extravaganza Hero.

The Guardian - Film

I had only just finished writing my first novel, I told him.

The Guardian - Books

Hollywood has only just finished congratulating itself on finally giving acting awards to African-Americans.

The Guardian

"Those sofas, Ross and Felicity had only just finished paying for them.

The Guardian

THE guests were expected in 15 minutes, and the ninjas had only just finished assembling their costumes.

The New York Times

His wife pushes back from the table, starts collecting the plates, though they are only just finished.

The New Yorker

How impressed was I then, to discover a huge swathe of foxgloves this spring which has only just finished flowering.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Some booths have only just finished counting, so we'll see what the results are in the morning," van Manen said.

The Guardian

This lead to a series of trials[pdf] of both protestors and police officers that have only just finished.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only just finished" to emphasize the recency of an action, creating a sense of immediacy or urgency in your writing. This works particularly well when the timing is surprising or relevant to the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "only just finished" for trivial or everyday actions; reserve it for situations where the timing is particularly noteworthy or has consequences. Overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only just finished" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, emphasizing the recency of an action's completion. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase highlights the very recent nature of an event or task.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Lifestyle

10%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only just finished" is a common and grammatically correct way to emphasize the recency of a completed action. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently used in news and media, and its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. Alternatives such as "recently completed" or "barely finished" can be used depending on the desired nuance. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard grammatical rules and is correct to use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely finished

Emphasizes how little time has passed since the action was completed.

recently completed

Highlights the completion of something in the near past.

newly finished

Focuses on the freshness or novelty of the completion.

just wrapped up

Uses a more informal tone to indicate recent completion.

lately concluded

Suggests a formal tone and recent finalization.

freshly done

Implies that something has been completed very recently and is in a new state.

just ended

Indicates the termination of an event or activity in the immediate past.

virtually finished

Emphasizes the action or event has been finalized and there is nothing else to do.

almost immediately after

Highlights the close temporal proximity between two actions.

scarcely over

Indicates that something has ended very recently and perhaps unexpectedly.

FAQs

How can I use "only just finished" in a sentence?

Use "only just finished" to indicate that something has been completed very recently. For example, "I "only just finished" my presentation, so I haven't had time to practice it yet".

What are some alternatives to "only just finished"?

You can use alternatives like "recently completed", "barely finished", or "just wrapped up" depending on the context and desired level of formality. See above for more alternatives.

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

Yes, the phrase "only just finished" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express that something was completed very recently.

What's the difference between "only just finished" and "recently finished"?

"Only just finished" emphasizes the immediacy and very recent nature of the completion, while "recently finished" ("recently finished") simply indicates that the action was completed in the near past, without the same sense of urgency or immediacy.