or ultimately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "or ultimately" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a potential alternative or eventual outcome. Some examples of when you can use "or ultimately" in a sentence are: - "We can either try to fix the issue now or ultimately replace the entire system." - "The company must decide whether to restructure the department or ultimately close it down." - "She can either apologize for her mistake or ultimately face consequences from her boss." - "You can either stick with your current job or ultimately pursue your dream career." - "The negotiations may result in a compromise or ultimately lead to a deadlock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This means that there is no dependency on (or, ultimately, requirement for) maintaining the legacy circuit-switched voice network.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Or, ultimately, Why are you neglecting me?

The New Yorker

People aren't responsible for their crimes: it's their poverty, their addictions or, ultimately, their neurons.

The New York Times

Finding Happiness There's no question that cancer, whether curable or ultimately fatal, changes lives.

The New York Times - Health

We're allowing people to earn real money for something that would go unused or ultimately expire".

The Guardian - Money

Mr. de Blasio's answer may not be perfect or ultimately achievable.

The New York Times

Or, ultimately, they would like to leave their retirement account to their heirs.

The New York Times

Whether Keohane's vote on expansion seeks to protect Duke's athletic future or ultimately hinders it remains to be seen.

The New York Times - Sports

[No matter] how loud they shout … how politely or ultimately forcefully they interject, their very existence [is] ignored".

The Guardian

Failure to adhere to regulatory standards can result in the registrant being admonished or ultimately removed from the register.

The Guardian

It will suck up your attention, demand you either kill it or curate it or, ultimately, ignore it.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or ultimately" to present a final or eventual outcome after considering other possibilities. It helps to add a sense of progression or consequence to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "or ultimately" when presenting choices that are equally viable and immediate. The phrase implies a progression towards a final outcome, not a simultaneous selection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or ultimately" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It serves to introduce an alternative or a consequence that arises as the final result or outcome of a process or series of events. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "or ultimately" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, typically used to introduce a final outcome or last resort. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. While versatile, it's important to use it accurately, reserving it for scenarios where the alternative truly represents a final consequence, and not just an immediate choice. Related phrases like "or eventually" or "or in the end" can serve as alternatives, depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

or in the end

Focuses on the final result or consequence, less about the process.

or eventually

Highlights the passage of time before the outcome occurs.

or as a last resort

Suggests that other options have been exhausted before this one.

or if all else fails

Similar to 'as a last resort', implying a fallback option.

or after everything else

Emphasizes that the outcome occurs after a series of prior events.

or down the line

Informal way to indicate a future possibility.

or in the long run

Focuses on the distant future and cumulative effects.

or to put it bluntly

Introduces a more direct way of expressing the same thing.

or to cut a long story short

Indicates a concise summary of a longer explanation.

or when push comes to shove

Highlights a critical or decisive moment.

FAQs

How do I use "or ultimately" in a sentence?

Use "or ultimately" to introduce a final outcome or result after a series of events or considerations. It suggests a progression or eventual consequence. For example, 'We can try to fix it, "or ultimately" replace it'.

What are some alternatives to "or ultimately"?

You can use alternatives like "or eventually", "or in the end", or "or as a last resort" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "or ultimately" when presenting choices?

No, "or ultimately" is not always necessary. It is best used when you want to emphasize the final or eventual outcome after a series of events or considerations. If you are presenting immediate, equally viable options, a simple "or" may suffice.

What's the difference between "or ultimately" and "or eventually"?

"Or ultimately" implies a final consequence or result, while "or eventually" simply indicates that something will happen at some point in the future. "Ultimately" carries a stronger sense of finality.