finite
gb/fˈaɪnˌaɪt/ us/fˈaɪnˌaɪt/
B2
English
~ 7700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
having limits or an end
Having limits; not going on forever in size, amount, or time.
Usage pattern:
[something] is finite
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "finite" with "final" or "definite." "Finite" means something has limits. "Final" means last, and "definite" means clear or certain. Another common mistake is leaving out "of" in phrases like "a finite number of people" (correct) versus "a finite number people" (incorrect).
Synonyms
limited (Very close in meaning; more common in everyday speech and can sound slightly less formal.)
|
restricted (Adds a sense of being held back or controlled by rules or conditions.)
Antonyms
infinite (Direct opposite; describes something without any limits in size, amount, or time.)
Collocations
finite amount
|finite number
|finite time
|finite resources
|finite capacity
|finite space
Themes
time
|quantity
|resources
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Our time on this planet is finite, so we should use it wisely.
- The company has finite resources and cannot fund every project.
- There is only a finite amount of space on the hard drive.
- Even her patience is finite and eventually she will say no.
- The island’s freshwater supply is finite and must be carefully managed.
Learner examples
- My energy is finite, so I need to rest.
- The earth has finite water and oil.
- We have a finite number of seats in this room.
- There is a finite amount of money in the budget.
- His power is finite; he cannot control everything.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
having limited mathematical size
In math or science, not endless in size, number, or value.
Usage pattern:
[something] is finite
Common mistake:
Learners may think "finite" in mathematics only refers to "small" sets or values. In fact, a finite set or number can be very large, but it must still have an exact, limited size or value.
Synonyms
bounded (Technical term often used in mathematics to mean there is a fixed limit that the size or value does not go beyond.)
Antonyms
infinite (In mathematics, describes a set, series, or value that has no end or upper bound.)
|
unbounded (Technical opposite in mathematics, stressing that there is no limit on growth or extent.)
Collocations
finite set
|finite sequence
|finite value
|finite interval
|finite-dimensional space
|finite difference
Themes
mathematics
|science
|education
Examples
- Every finite set of real numbers has a maximum and a minimum.
- The probability of the event is a finite, non-zero value.
- Because the sequence is finite, we can compute its sum directly.
- In this model, the speed of light is treated as a finite constant.
- The algorithm runs in finite time for any valid input.
Learner examples
- A finite set has a countable number of elements.
- The answer to the equation is a finite number.
- This function stays finite for all real values of x.
- The list of options is finite, not endless.
- In this game, you make a finite number of moves.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
showing tense and subject agreement
About a verb form that shows time (tense) and normally changes to match the subject.
Usage pattern:
a finite [verb/clause/form]
Common mistake:
Learners often think "finite" here has its usual meaning of "limited." In grammar, it is a fixed label for verb forms that show tense and often agree with the subject. Another confusion is to call all verbs "finite"; infinitives (to go), -ing forms (going), and past participles (gone) are non-finite.
Synonyms
conjugated (Emphasises that the verb form has been changed for tense and subject; less common as a direct label in basic grammar explanations.)
Antonyms
non-finite (Grammar term for verb forms that do not show tense or subject agreement, such as infinitives, -ing forms, and past participles.)
Collocations
finite verb
|finite clause
|finite form
|finite auxiliary
|non-finite vs finite
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
|communication
Examples
- In the sentence "She walks home," the verb "walks" is finite.
- A finite clause must contain a finite verb that carries tense.
- English sentences generally require at least one finite verb.
- In this exercise, underline the finite forms of the verb "be."
- Only finite verbs can function as the main verb in an independent clause.
Learner examples
- In "I went home," the verb "went" is finite.
- A finite verb shows past, present, or future time.
- Every full sentence needs a finite verb.
- The teacher asked us to find the finite verbs in the text.
- An infinitive is not a finite verb form.
Grammar
Dictionary form
finite
IPA
GB/fˈaɪnˌaɪt/
US/fˈaɪnˌaɪt/
Syllables & stress
fi - nite (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fi)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: finite
Word family
Related words
infinitely
adverb B2
finitely
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
nonfinite
adjective
Advanced or less common
finiteness
noun
Expressions
a finite number of
1/ə fˈaɪnˌaɪt nˈʌmbɚ əv/
fixed phrase
a limited count of things
Used to say there is only a limited, countable amount of something.
Examples
- Only a finite number of tickets are available for the concert.
- There are a finite number of ways to solve this puzzle.
- We can only handle a finite number of projects at once.
finite amount of
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt əmˈaʊnt əv/
fixed phrase
a limited quantity of something
Used to say there is only a limited quantity of something that can be measured.
Examples
- We have a finite amount of time to finish this report.
- There is only a finite amount of clean water in this area.
- Each person has a finite amount of attention to give.
finite element method
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt ˈɛləmənt mˈɛθəd/
fixed phrase
technical
engineering numerical analysis method
A mathematical method used in engineering and physics that breaks a large system into many small parts to approximate a solution.
Examples
- The structure was analyzed using the finite element method.
- She is writing her thesis on improvements to the finite element method.
finite resources
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt ɹˈisɔɹsɪz/
fixed phrase
limited supplies that can run out
Resources such as money, time, or natural materials that exist in limited amounts and can be used up.
Examples
- We must manage our finite resources carefully to avoid waste.
- The planet’s finite resources cannot support endless growth.
- Governments have finite resources and must set priorities.
finite set
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt sˈɛt/
fixed phrase
technical
mathematical set with limited elements
In mathematics, a group of items that has a countable, limited number of members.
Examples
- A finite set of integers always has both a smallest and a largest element.
- The sample space for this experiment is a finite set.
- Any finite set can be listed in full.
finite state machine
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt stˈeɪt məʃˈin/
fixed phrase
technical
computational model with limited states
A simple computer model that has a limited number of states and rules for moving from one state to another.
Examples
- The vending machine can be modeled as a finite state machine.
- Students learned how to design a finite state machine for input validation.
finite time
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
limited period of time
A limited period in which something must or can happen; not endless time.
Examples
- We have to complete the test in finite time.
- Their goal is to prove that the algorithm finishes in finite time.
- Even with modern medicine, humans live for only a finite time.
finite verb
1/fˈaɪnˌaɪt vˈɚb/
fixed phrase
technical
verb form with tense and agreement
A verb form that shows time (tense) and usually changes to match the subject, and can be the main verb of a sentence.
Examples
- In "They are sleeping," the word "are" is the finite verb.
- A basic English sentence must include at least one finite verb.
- Circle the finite verb in each of these sentences.