ultimately

USAGE SUMMARY

"ultimately" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean "at the end" or "finally". For example: "Ultimately, he was successful in his venture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Let us assure you that the Government will do all we can to defeat the voices of division, but ultimately the challenges of integration and radicalisation cannot be solved from Whitehall alone.

The Guardian

I had to admit that it would actually cost the government more for a woman not to be in prostitution, but ultimately these are your citizens.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Billy Elliot winningly forsook his mining heritage to pursue a post-industrial career in ballet, pirouetting past the picketlines, but his dream was ultimately embraced by the community, whose whip-round gets him to the big London audition.

The Guardian - Film

Formally, Valencia still have a €230m debt and face a significant challenge to finish the new stadium, if they do ultimately do so, and sell the old one.

The Guardian - Sport

But, of course, ultimately the solution lies in a political settlement.

The Guardian

After all, conflict and power-plays are ultimately about people, not about the weapons that act on our behalf.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ultimately, for me this whole issue is not about whether we care about civil liberties, but how we care for them in the modern world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Graduates who earn more will repay more each month, so the system is fair and affordable; and those who enter a more lucrative profession will pay a higher rate of interest, and ultimately contribute more to the cost of their university education.

The Guardian

"Ultimately they could build new shared infrastructure, a 'super-network'.

The Guardian

It seems obvious that the happiness of our citizens is what ultimately matters (though if you believe that the rights of non-human animals are just as important then I might be sympathetic to such a caveat).

The Guardian

"Ultimately we are looking to build up a solid foundation of expertise among commissioners so they commissioning can be done expertly and consistently," she says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ultimately" to introduce the final and most important point after a series of arguments or considerations. It signals to the reader that you are about to present the key takeaway.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimately" simply as a transitional word without adding significant meaning. Ensure it genuinely signifies the final or most crucial point, rather than just adding unnecessary emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ultimately" is to act as an adverb of manner, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the final result or consequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ultimately" is a very common adverb used to emphasize the final result or most important aspect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in news, formal and business contexts, signaling a professional tone. While versatile, avoid overuse as a mere filler. When seeking alternatives, consider phrases like "eventually" or "in the end" to convey similar meanings with slight nuance differences. Using "ultimately" effectively can add significant weight to your conclusions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eventually

Focuses on the conclusion of an action or event.

in the final analysis

Emphasizes a thorough consideration before reaching the final conclusion.

when all is said and done

Indicates that after all considerations, the following statement is the most important.

at the end of the day

Highlights the most important fact after everything else has been considered. It is less formal.

after all is considered

Suggests that after a period of reflection, a decision can be made.

in the long run

Focuses on the outcome over an extended period.

in essence

Highlights the core or most important aspect.

fundamentally

Points to the most basic or essential aspect of something.

sooner or later

Emphasizes the inevitability of an event or outcome over time.

as a consequence

Highlights the result of an action.

FAQs

How to use "ultimately" in a sentence?

"Ultimately" is used to indicate the final result or most important fact. For example: "Ultimately, the decision rests with the manager."

What can I say instead of "ultimately"?

You can use alternatives like "eventually", "finally", or "in the end" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "ultimately" and "finally" in the same sentence?

While not strictly incorrect, using both "ultimately" and "finally" can be redundant. Choose the word that best fits the context and avoid using both unless you want to add a very strong emphasis.

What's the difference between "ultimately" and "basically"?

"Ultimately" refers to the final outcome or most important point, while "basically" refers to the fundamental or essential nature of something. They are not interchangeable.