was finally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was finally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred after a long wait or effort, often conveying a sense of relief or satisfaction. Example: "After years of hard work, she was finally able to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Meistersinger" was finally over.

The New Yorker

I was finally home.

The New Yorker

Caldwell was finally swayed.

Harvard Business Review

She was, finally, cornered.

The Guardian - Opinion

Curtain was finally published.

The Guardian - Opinion

— was finally answered.

The New York Times

Enough was finally enough.

The Guardian

It was finally our stop.

The New York Times

Mr. Wade was finally gone.

The New York Times

Their wait was finally over.

The New York Times - Sports

This was finally my day".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was finally" to clearly indicate that an action or state occurred after a considerable duration or effort, creating a sense of resolution or completion for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "was finally" multiple times in a single paragraph. This can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "eventually", "ultimately", or "at last" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was finally" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the temporal aspect of an action or state. Ludwig examples show this phrase is used to express that something occurred after a period of time or effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was finally" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate that an action or state occurred after a period. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. To enhance your writing, ensure you use it appropriately to convey a sense of resolution and vary your language to avoid repetition. Remember that the phrase communicates more than just the end of something, but the process leading up to it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eventually was

Reorders the words but maintains the core meaning of eventual occurrence.

ultimately was

Emphasizes the end result or final outcome after a process.

in the end was

Highlights the concluding state after a series of events.

at last was

Conveys a sense of relief or satisfaction at the completion of something.

after much delay was

Explicitly mentions the delay before the resolution.

succeeded in being

Focuses on the successful achievement of a state or condition.

managed to be

Highlights the effort involved in reaching the final state.

concluded by being

Indicates that the end result was a particular state or condition.

resulted in being

Emphasizes the final state as a consequence of previous events.

turned out to be

Highlights an unexpected final state after a period of uncertainty.

FAQs

How to use "was finally" in a sentence?

Use "was finally" to indicate that something happened after a period of waiting or effort. For example, "After years of training, she "was finally" selected for the Olympic team."

What can I say instead of "was finally"?

You can use alternatives like "eventually was", "ultimately was", or "at last was" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was finally" or "finally was"?

"Was finally" is the standard and grammatically correct order. "Finally was" is less common and can sound awkward in most contexts.

What's the difference between "was finally" and "became"?

"Was finally" implies a duration or effort leading to a result, while "became" simply indicates a change in state. For instance, "He "was finally" recognized for his contributions" suggests a long wait, whereas "He became a doctor" simply states a change.