Skip to main content

finitehaving limits or bounds; not infinite

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: having limits or bounds; not infinite

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfaɪnaɪt/

Example Sentences

  • My patience is finite, so please hurry up!
  • The Earth has finite fossil fuel reserves.
  • Unlike my love for pizza, my stomach capacity is finite.

finite

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈfaɪnaɪt/]

having limits or bounds; not infinite

The hourglass shows that even desert time is finite, grain by grain.
💡 Concept

The hourglass shows that even desert time is finite, grain by grain.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈfaɪnaɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈfaɪnaɪt/

🌳Etymology

Rootfin
Suffix--ite

Origin

Finite derives from the Latin finitus, the past participle of finire, meaning 'to end' or 'to complete'. The word evolved to represent the concept of limitation and boundedness, as if drawing a line to establish a boundary.

Breakdown

fin- (end, boundary) + -ite (adjective suffix indicating a state or quality), from Latin finitus (ended, bounded).

🎵Rhyme

nightsightlightheight
night
sight
light
height

🔗Collocations

finite resources
finite number
finite time
finite capacity
finite verb
finite element

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My patience is finite, so please hurry up!

The Earth has finite fossil fuel reserves.

😄 Fun example

Unlike my love for pizza, my stomach capacity is finite.

We need to use finite natural resources more wisely.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

limitedboundedrestrictedconfined

Antonyms

infiniteunlimitedboundless

Related

finalfinishdefiniteterminal

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.