Finally vs In closing

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Finally

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adverb

In closing

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: In closing Most common: Finally

	Finally	In closing
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfaɪnəli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfaɪnəli/"]/	🇬🇧 //ɪn ˈkləʊzɪŋ// 🇺🇸 //ɪn ˈkloʊzɪŋ//
Meaning	At last; after a long wait.	To end a speech or statement.
Example	After hours of waiting, she finally arrived at the party.	In closing, I would like to thank everyone for their support.
Register	Neutral	Formal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	finally arriving, finally finished, finally ready, finally resolved, finally discovered	speak in closing, phrase in closing, statement in closing
Antonyms	initially, first	-
Common mistakes	'Finally' is sometimes confused with 'eventually', but 'finally' implies completion., Learners often use 'finally' too early; it should come after the delay or wait is described., Placing 'finally' at the beginning of a sentence can sound awkward in informal contexts.	Using in informal texts where casual language is preferred., Placing at the beginning of a sentence instead of the end., Confusing with 'in conclusion' which has a similar meaning.
Usage notes	Use 'finally' to indicate that something has happened after a delay or difficulty. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing.	Used in speeches, presentations, or formal writing. It indicates that the speaker is summarizing and concluding their points. Avoid in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Agent Carter › S1 E1

That bouncer from the broom closet finally came to.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

It is so good to finally meet you both face-to-face.

Friends › S1 E1

- He finally asked you out? - Yes.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

That bouncer from the broom closet finally came to.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

It is so good to finally meet you both face-to-face.

Finally

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

In closing, I can tell you

In closing

Frequently asked questions: Finally vs In closing

What's the difference between Finally and In closing?

Finally: At last; after a long wait. In closing: To end a speech or statement.

Which is more formal: Finally and In closing?

In closing is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Finally and In closing?

Finally is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Finally: After hours of waiting, she finally arrived at the party. In closing: In closing, I would like to thank everyone for their support.

Can I use Finally and In closing interchangeably?

Not always. Finally and In closing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.