Complete vs. Finish: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 27, 2023
Complete denotes having all parts or elements; lacking nothing, while Finish refers to bringing something to an end or conclusion.
Key Differences
Complete and Finish, while seemingly similar, serve different linguistic functions. Complete emphasizes the wholeness or entirety of something, suggesting that nothing is missing. Finish, on the other hand, emphasizes the termination or conclusion of an action or process.
Consider a puzzle. When all pieces are put together, one can say the puzzle is "complete" because nothing is missing. However, when the process of assembling the puzzle ends, one "finishes" the puzzle.
The word Complete often implies perfection or fulfillment. For example, when a person feels "complete," they feel whole or fulfilled in a specific context. On the contrary, to "finish" something doesn't necessarily mean it's perfect; it merely means it's done or concluded.
Another distinction is in the usage of both words. Complete can be both an adjective ("a complete set") and a verb ("to complete a task"). Finish is primarily used as a verb, though it can also be a noun in contexts like "a glossy finish."
In daily parlance, Complete and Finish can sometimes be used interchangeably, especially in casual settings. Yet, understanding their nuanced differences adds precision to one's expression.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Having all necessary parts, elements, or steps.
To bring something to an end or conclusion.
Usage
Can be both an adjective and a verb.
Primarily a verb, sometimes a noun.
Connotation
Suggests wholeness or entirety.
Suggests termination or conclusion.
Example Scenario
A filled form or a solved puzzle.
The end of a race or a task.
Grammatical Position
Often used before nouns as an adjective or as a verb in sentences.
Commonly used as a verb in sentences.
ADVERTISEMENT
Complete and Finish Definitions
Complete
Absolute or unqualified.
His happiness was complete when he received the award.
Finish
The final or concluding stage.
The sprinter had a strong finish in the race.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded.
The construction of the bridge is now complete.
Finish
To consume or use all of something.
He finished his coffee in one gulp.
Complete
Having all modifying or complementary elements included.
The complete subject of the sentence was underlined.
Finish
To defeat or destroy.
The boxer wanted to finish his opponent in the next round.
Complete
Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire
A complete medical history.
A complete set of dishes.
Finish
To stop (doing an activity or task) after reaching the point at which there is nothing left to do
Finished cleaning the room.
Complete
(Botany) Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
Finish
To bring to a required or desired state
Finish an assignment.
Finish a painting.
Complete
Having come to an end; concluded
The renovation of the kitchen is complete.
Finish
To arrive at or attain the end of
Finish a race.
Complete
Absolute; thorough
Complete control.
A complete mystery.
Finish
(Sports) To perform the last maneuver in (an offensive play), scoring a goal.
Complete
Accomplished; consummate
A complete musician.
Finish
To consume all of; use up
Finish a pie.
Finished off the pizza.
Complete
(Football) Caught in bounds by a receiver
A complete pass.
Finish
To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.
Complete
To bring to a finish or an end
She has completed her studies.
Finish
To destroy; kill
Finished the injured horse with a bullet.
Complete
To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts
A second child would complete their family. Fill in the blanks to complete the form.
Finish
To bring about the ruin of
The stock market crash finished many speculators.
Complete
(Football) To throw (a forward pass) that is caught in bounds by a receiver.
Finish
To come to an end; stop
A story that finishes with a twist.
Complete
(ambitransitive) To finish; to make done; to reach the end.
He completed the assignment on time.
Finish
To reach the end of a task, course, or relationship
The speaker finished with a rousing call to action.
Complete
(transitive) To make whole or entire.
The last chapter completes the book nicely.
Finish
(Sports) To score a goal as the last maneuver in a play
A good forward who just can't seem to finish.
Complete
(poker) To call from the small blind in an unraised pot.
Finish
The final part; the conclusion
Racers neck-and-neck at the finish.
Complete
With all parts included; with nothing missing; full.
My life will be complete once I buy this new television.
She offered me complete control of the project.
After she found the rook, the chess set was complete.
Finish
The reason for one's ruin; downfall
Stealing the computer codes proved to be his finish.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed.
When your homework is complete, you can go and play with Martin.
Finish
The last treatment or coating of a surface
Applied a shellac finish to the cabinet.
Complete
Generic intensifier.
He is a complete bastard!
It was a complete shock when he turned up on my doorstep.
Our vacation was a complete disaster.
Finish
The surface texture produced by such a treatment or coating.
Complete
In which every Cauchy sequence converges to a point within the space.
Finish
A material used in surfacing or finishing.
Complete
In which every set with a lower bound has a greatest lower bound.
Finish
Completeness, refinement, or smoothness of execution; polish.
Complete
In which all small limits exist.
Finish
The flavor left in the mouth after wine has been swallowed.
Complete
In which every semantically valid well-formed formula is provable.
Finish
An end; the end of anything.
Complete
That is in a given complexity class and is such that every other problem in the class can be reduced to it (usually in polynomial time or logarithmic space).
Finish
A protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces.
The car's finish was so shiny and new.
Complete
Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficiency; entire; perfect; consummate.
Ye are complete in him.
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steelRevisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon.
Finish
The result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth.
Complete
Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is complete.
This course of vanity almost complete.
Finish
A finishing touch; careful elaboration; polish.
Complete
Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.
Finish
(sports) A shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal.
Complete
To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education.
Bred only and completed to the tasteOf lustful appetence.
And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate.
Finish
(transitive) To complete (something).
Be sure to finish your homework before you go to bed!
Complete
Come or bring to a finish or an end;
He finished the dishes
She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours
Finish
(transitive) To apply a treatment to a surface or similar.
The furniture was finished in teak veneer.
Complete
Bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements;
A child would complete the family
Finish
(transitive) To change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal.
Due to BSE, cows in the United Kingdom must be finished and slaughtered before 30 months of age.
Complete
Complete or carry out;
Discharge one's duties
Finish
(intransitive) To come to an end.
We had to leave before the concert had finished.
Complete
Complete a pass
Finish
(transitive) To put an end to; to destroy.
These rumours could finish your career.
Complete
Write all the required information onto a form;
Fill out this questionnaire, please!
Make out a form
Finish
To reach orgasm.
Complete
Having every necessary or normal part or component or step;
A complete meal
A complete wardrobe
A complete set pf the Britannica
A complete set of china
A complete defeat
A complete accounting
An incomplete flower
Finish
To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate.
And heroically hath finishedA life heroic.
Complete
Perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities;
A complete gentleman
Consummate happiness
A consummate performance
Finish
To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.
Complete
Having all four whorls or principal parts--sepals and petals and stamens and carpels (or pistils);
Complete flowers
Finish
To come to an end; to terminate.
His days may finish ere that hapless time.
Complete
Highly skilled;
An accomplished pianist
A complete musician
Finish
To end; to die.
Complete
Without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers;
An arrant fool
A complete coward
A consummate fool
A double-dyed villain
Gross negligence
A perfect idiot
Pure folly
What a sodding mess
Stark staring mad
A thoroughgoing villain
Utter nonsense
Finish
That which finishes, puts an end to or perfects.
Complete
Having come or been brought to a conclusion;
The harvesting was complete
The affair is over, ended, finished
The abruptly terminated interview
Finish
The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish.
Complete
Lacking no component part; whole or entire.
She gave him a complete set of the Harry Potter books.
Finish
The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like.
Complete
To make whole or perfect.
She needed to complete three more courses to earn her degree.
Finish
The result of completed labor, as on the surface of an object; manner or style of finishing; as, a rough, dead, or glossy finish given to cloth, stone, metal, etc.
Finish
Completion; - opposed to start, or beginning.
Finish
A decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance);
The boat had a metallic finish
He applied a coat of a clear finish
When the finish is too thin it is difficult to apply evenly
Finish
Designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race);
Excitement grew as the finish neared
My horse was several lengths behind at the finish
The winner is the team with the most points at the finish
Finish
The act of finishing;
His best finish in a major tournament was third
The speaker's finishing was greeted with applause
Finish
The place designated as the end (as of a race or journey);
A crowd assembled at the finish
He was nearly exhuasted as their destination came into view
Finish
The temporal end; the concluding time;
The stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
The market was up at the finish
They were playing better at the close of the season
Finish
(wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed);
The wine has a nutty flavor and a pleasant finish
Finish
Event whose occurrence ends something;
His death marked the ending of an era
When these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show
Finish
The downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict);
Booze will be the finish of him
It was a fight to the finish
Finish
A highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality;
They performed with great polish
I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
Almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art
Finish
Come or bring to a finish or an end;
He finished the dishes
She completed the requirements for her Master's Degree
The fastest runner finished the race in just over 2 hours; others finished in over 4 hours
Finish
Finally be or do something;
He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart
He wound up being unemployed and living at home again
Finish
Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical;
The bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed
Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other
My property ends by the bushes
The symphony ends in a pianissimo
Finish
Provide with a finish;
The carpenter finished the table beautifully
Finish
Finish eating all the food on one's plate or on the table;
She polished off the remaining potatoes
Finish
Cause to finish a relationship with somebody;
That finished me with Mary
Finish
To bring to an end; terminate.
She will finish her assignment by tomorrow.
Finish
The protective coating or surface treatment of a material.
The wooden table had a glossy finish.
FAQs
Can something be finished but not complete?
Yes, one can finish a task without it being complete in all its details.
Can a task be complete but not finished?
Yes, a task can be complete in its requirements but not yet concluded.
Can "finish" indicate quality?
Yes, especially when referring to the quality of a surface or end result.
Which is more final: Complete or Finish?
Finish has a more definitive sense of conclusion.
What's the opposite of "complete"?
Incomplete.
Which word suggests perfection?
Complete often implies wholeness or perfection.
Does "completely finished" make sense?
Yes, it emphasizes that something is thoroughly concluded.
Can Complete and Finish be used interchangeably?
In some contexts, yes, but they have nuanced differences.
Is Finish always about ending something?
Primarily, yes. Finish usually refers to concluding or ending.
Is "complete" always an adjective?
No, "complete" can also be a verb, as in "complete a form."
How can "finish" be used as a noun?
"Finish" can denote the surface quality of a material, like "a matte finish."
Can you "finish" a thought?
Yes, it means to conclude or express a thought fully.
Is a "finished product" always "complete"?
Not necessarily. A "finished product" is ready for use or sale, but it might not have every possible feature.
Which term relates more to a process's end?
Finish relates more directly to the end or conclusion of a process.
Is a "complete meal" the same as a "finished meal"?
No, a "complete meal" has all components, while a "finished meal" means it has been eaten or concluded.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
