Use finalize when the remaining choices are being settled and no further changes are expected.
Use finalize when the remaining choices are being settled and no further changes are expected.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She will finalizing the report tomorrow. | She will finalize the report tomorrow. |
| The contract was finalizing yesterday. | The contract was finalized yesterday. |
| We need to final the schedule. | We need to finalize the schedule. |
| They finalized on the price. | They finalized the price. |
Use finalize for runtime-managed cleanup, especially finalizers, and prefer explicit close or dispose operations when code needs predictable release.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Rely on finalize to close the file immediately. | Call close or dispose to close the file immediately. |
| Call finalize directly on the object. | Let the runtime call finalize when finalization is supported. |
| Assume finalize always runs at shutdown. | Do not assume finalize always runs at shutdown. |
| Use finalize to initialize the object. | Use initialize code to set up the object. |
Use finalize for making something official or complete. In programming, prefer explicit cleanup unless a finalizer is truly needed.
Finalizing is not the same as merely drafting, and programming cleanup through finalize is not immediate or guaranteed.
Formed from final + -ize and recorded in the nineteenth century. The chiefly British spelling is finalise.
What does finalize mean?
Finalize means to put something into its final approved or completed form.
Is finalize the same as finish?
They overlap, but finalize often adds the idea of approval, confirmation, or no more changes.
Is finalize American English?
Finalize is standard in American English. Finalise is the usual British spelling outside Oxford-style spelling.
What is the past tense of finalize?
The past tense and past participle are finalized.
Can finalize be used in legal writing?
Yes. Contracts, settlements, divorces, and regulations can be finalized when their terms become settled or approved.
What does finalize mean in programming?
It means to run final cleanup for an object or resource before a runtime reclaims it.
Should code rely on finalize for cleanup?
No. Java and .NET documentation warn that finalization is not timely or guaranteed, so explicit close or dispose patterns are preferred.
What is the noun form of finalize?
The noun is finalization, or finalisation in many British contexts.