Cool MateEventually
UK /["/ɪˈventʃuəli/"]/US /["/ɪˈventʃuəli/"]/
Definition
at the end of a period of time or a series of events
In simple words: In the end; after a period of time.
Examples
- Our flight eventually left five hours late.
- I'll get round to mending it eventually.
- She hopes eventually to attend medical school and become a doctor.
- She hopes to get a job on the local newspaper and eventually work for ‘The Times’.
- It can result in cell damage and eventually lead to cancer.
- But this could eventually become a problem for the city.
- They did eventually find my luggage.
- When she eventually got the car going, there was a funny sound from the fan belt.
- I believe this conflict will eventually come to an end.
Usage notes
Commonly used to suggest that something will happen after a delay. Avoid in very formal writing or when expressing immediate actions.
Grammar pattern
eventually + clause
Memory hint
Think of 'eventually' as 'eventually, it will happen' — imagine waiting for a bus that finally arrives.
Collocations
- eventually arrive
- eventually lead to
- eventually happen
Synonyms
- finally
- ultimately
- in the end
- at last
- sooner or later
Antonyms
- immediately
- instantly
- now
Common mistakes
- Using 'eventually' when the action is immediate or certain.
- Confusing it with 'eventual,' which refers to the final outcome rather than the process leading to it.
- Incorrectly placing it at the beginning of a sentence without a comma.