B2adverb2K

Ultimately

UK /["/ˈʌltɪmətli/"]/US /["/ˈʌltɪmətli/"]/

Definition

in the end; finally

In simple words: In the end; finally.

Examples

A poor diet will **ultimately lead to** illness.
He is ultimately responsible for the actions of the rebels he leads.
Ultimately, you'll have to make the decision yourself.
His strategy ultimately failed, however.
Smith ultimately became the father of modern geology.
The economic changes ultimately proved successful.
It was a propaganda victory that ultimately decided the outcome of the war.
The campaign was ultimately successful.
All life depends ultimately on oxygen.
Ultimately, however, films come down to their stories and characters.

Usage notes

Use 'ultimately' to emphasize the final outcome of a situation. It is not suitable for casual or informal conversations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adverb

Memory hint

Think of 'ultimate' as the last in a series, so 'ultimately' means the last point.

Collocations

ultimately responsible
ultimately decide
ultimately lead to

Synonyms

finally
eventually
in the end
at last
conclusively

Antonyms

initially
first
at the beginning

Common mistakes

'Ultimately' is often misused when the context is not about finality.
Learners may confuse 'ultimately' with 'eventually' but they are not exactly the same.
Overusing 'ultimately' in casual speech can sound pretentious.