Finite
adjective
Something that is limited or has an end.
The resources on Earth are finite.
adjective
In grammar, a form of a verb that shows tense, person or number.
'She runs' has a finite verb, 'runs', which shows present tense and third person singular.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In mathematics, a number that is not infinite.
The sum of any two finite numbers is also a finite number.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In physics, a term that describes quantities which are not infinite.
In realistic models of the universe, physical quantities are expected to be finite.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Something that is limited or has an end.
The resources on Earth are finite.
adjective
In grammar, a form of a verb that shows tense, person or number.
'She runs' has a finite verb, 'runs', which shows present tense and third person singular.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In mathematics, a number that is not infinite.
The sum of any two finite numbers is also a finite number.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In physics, a term that describes quantities which are not infinite.
In realistic models of the universe, physical quantities are expected to be finite.
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Limits
Use 'finite' to stress the tangible limitations of objects, resources, or situations.
The battery life of a phone is finite.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Eternal
'Finite' emphasizes that something will not last forever, often used for effect.
Our time on this project is finite; let's prioritize tasks.
Pro Tip 3/3Implied Scarcity
Describing something as 'finite' can imply the need for careful usage or conservation.
Water is a finite resource; we must use it wisely.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Limits
Use 'finite' to stress the tangible limitations of objects, resources, or situations.
The battery life of a phone is finite.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Eternal
'Finite' emphasizes that something will not last forever, often used for effect.
Our time on this project is finite; let's prioritize tasks.
Pro Tip 3/3Implied Scarcity
Describing something as 'finite' can imply the need for careful usage or conservation.
Water is a finite resource; we must use it wisely.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Limits
Use 'finite' to stress the tangible limitations of objects, resources, or situations.
The battery life of a phone is finite.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Eternal
'Finite' emphasizes that something will not last forever, often used for effect.
Our time on this project is finite; let's prioritize tasks.
Pro Tip 3/3Implied Scarcity
Describing something as 'finite' can imply the need for careful usage or conservation.
Water is a finite resource; we must use it wisely.
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Video examples
Are we living in a...
If space and time are continuous, then even a tiny piece of the universe has infinite points and becomes impossible to simulate with finite computing power. So a simulation would have to represent space and time in very small pieces. These would be almost incomprehensibly tiny. But we might be able to search for them
Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
he needs to walk half the remaining distance. Again, this takes a finite amount of time. Once he gets there, he still needs to walk half the distance that's left, which takes another finite amount of time. This happens again and again and again. You can see that we can keep going like this forever,
Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
the scenarios faced by the ever-diligent and maybe too hospitable night manager serve to remind us of just how hard it is for our relatively finite minds to grasp a concept as large as infinity. Maybe you can help tackle these problems after a good night's sleep. But honestly, we might need you
Video examples
Golden Eagle Flying In...
on that thumb and so you just said it there the Aluna isn't it yeah there's some action of those feathers that give some finite control these are the effectively the remedies it's not what it's called yeah so that's sort of the the wing feathers if you like yes the
Video examples
What game theory teaches...
we are still trying to decide which one is more important we're trying to win and beat all of these things and not realize that the game is infinite not finite and the United States policies these days are become shorter and shorter term which creates turmoil and
Video examples
The case of the missing...
approaching a fixed number, while the perimeter was just getting bigger and bigger, uncontrollably ballooning like an overindulgent birthday clown. After infinity pinches, flimflam, there it Finite area, but infinite perimeter. Now that is a piece of work.
Video examples
Three ideas. Three...
not to come out to my grandmother. And I did that because I knew her life was drawing to an end, and my time with her was finite, and I did not want to talk about the ways we were different. I wanted to talk about the ways were we connected.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
that will inoculate us against wanderlust. But what if passion has a finite shelf life? What if there are things that even a good relationship can never provide? If even happy people cheat,
Video examples
Helium 101 PIPE National...
its availability is finite. Because it's lightweight when helium is released into the atmosphere it floats into space and is lost to earth forever.
Video examples
A guide to the energy of...
Energy is all around us, a physical quantity that follows precise natural laws. Our universe has a finite amount of it;
Video examples
Are we living in a...
If space and time are continuous, then even a tiny piece of the universe has infinite points and becomes impossible to simulate with finite computing power. So a simulation would have to represent space and time in very small pieces. These would be almost incomprehensibly tiny. But we might be able to search for them
Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
he needs to walk half the remaining distance. Again, this takes a finite amount of time. Once he gets there, he still needs to walk half the distance that's left, which takes another finite amount of time. This happens again and again and again. You can see that we can keep going like this forever,
Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
the scenarios faced by the ever-diligent and maybe too hospitable night manager serve to remind us of just how hard it is for our relatively finite minds to grasp a concept as large as infinity. Maybe you can help tackle these problems after a good night's sleep. But honestly, we might need you
Video examples
Golden Eagle Flying In...
on that thumb and so you just said it there the Aluna isn't it yeah there's some action of those feathers that give some finite control these are the effectively the remedies it's not what it's called yeah so that's sort of the the wing feathers if you like yes the
Video examples
What game theory teaches...
we are still trying to decide which one is more important we're trying to win and beat all of these things and not realize that the game is infinite not finite and the United States policies these days are become shorter and shorter term which creates turmoil and
Video examples
The case of the missing...
approaching a fixed number, while the perimeter was just getting bigger and bigger, uncontrollably ballooning like an overindulgent birthday clown. After infinity pinches, flimflam, there it Finite area, but infinite perimeter. Now that is a piece of work.
Video examples
Three ideas. Three...
not to come out to my grandmother. And I did that because I knew her life was drawing to an end, and my time with her was finite, and I did not want to talk about the ways we were different. I wanted to talk about the ways were we connected.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
that will inoculate us against wanderlust. But what if passion has a finite shelf life? What if there are things that even a good relationship can never provide? If even happy people cheat,
Video examples
Helium 101 PIPE National...
its availability is finite. Because it's lightweight when helium is released into the atmosphere it floats into space and is lost to earth forever.
Video examples
A guide to the energy of...
Energy is all around us, a physical quantity that follows precise natural laws. Our universe has a finite amount of it;
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jason Priestley
Canadian Actor
As an actor, your focus is very finite. All you're worried about is your character and what you have to do, what your goals are in this scene and in this piece of material. Whereas, as the director, everything is your responsibility. I enjoy carrying the load like that and being the responsible party.
Quote examples
James C. Maxwell
Scottish Mathematician
Every existence above a certain rank has its singular points; the higher the rank the more of them. At these points, influences whose physical magnitude is too small to be taken account of by a finite being may produce results of the greatest importance.
Quote examples
Jhumpa Lahiri
American Author
Literature is such a profound and deep way to look into someone else's life, his mind, his hopes and thoughts. Books have opened so many doors for me, taking me to places where my normal life and its finite limits could never have.
Quote examples
Joseph Brodsky
American Poet
Because civilizations are finite, in the life of each of them there comes a moment when the center ceases to hold. What keeps them at such times from disintegration is not legions but language.
Quote examples
Joshua Jackson
American Actor
TV, particularly network television, gives you a much greater opportunity to tell a long-form story, to develop a character and keep it detailed. Film, by its nature, is more finite.
Quote examples
Gary Cohn
American Businessman
There is a finite group of major financial players... and overall, the best thing for all of us is to be in an industry that's well respected, well regarded, and well thought of.
Quote examples
Garrett Hardin
American Environmentalist
In a finite world this means that the per capita share of the world's goods must steadily decrease.
Quote examples
James P. Carse
American Historian
The finite play for life is serious; the infinite play of life is joyous.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.
Quote examples
Joe Russo
American Director
Everything is finite, right? Nothing can last forever.
Quote examples
Jason Priestley
Canadian Actor
As an actor, your focus is very finite. All you're worried about is your character and what you have to do, what your goals are in this scene and in this piece of material. Whereas, as the director, everything is your responsibility. I enjoy carrying the load like that and being the responsible party.
Quote examples
James C. Maxwell
Scottish Mathematician
Every existence above a certain rank has its singular points; the higher the rank the more of them. At these points, influences whose physical magnitude is too small to be taken account of by a finite being may produce results of the greatest importance.
Quote examples
Jhumpa Lahiri
American Author
Literature is such a profound and deep way to look into someone else's life, his mind, his hopes and thoughts. Books have opened so many doors for me, taking me to places where my normal life and its finite limits could never have.
Quote examples
Joseph Brodsky
American Poet
Because civilizations are finite, in the life of each of them there comes a moment when the center ceases to hold. What keeps them at such times from disintegration is not legions but language.
Quote examples
Joshua Jackson
American Actor
TV, particularly network television, gives you a much greater opportunity to tell a long-form story, to develop a character and keep it detailed. Film, by its nature, is more finite.
Quote examples
Gary Cohn
American Businessman
There is a finite group of major financial players... and overall, the best thing for all of us is to be in an industry that's well respected, well regarded, and well thought of.
Quote examples
Garrett Hardin
American Environmentalist
In a finite world this means that the per capita share of the world's goods must steadily decrease.
Quote examples
James P. Carse
American Historian
The finite play for life is serious; the infinite play of life is joyous.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.
Quote examples
Joe Russo
American Director
Everything is finite, right? Nothing can last forever.
Example 1 of 10
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