Eventually: in the end after a process

The idea

Use eventually found for an outcome after a process, or will eventually help for an expected future outcome. The context may state the delay, but the word gives no exact duration.

Examples

• After several calls, she eventually reached the office.
• We eventually found the right road.
• The rain stopped eventually.
• He hopes the project will eventually help more people.
• They discussed the problem and eventually agreed.
• The train eventually arrived, an hour late.

Watch out

Eventually does not mean merely possibly. A future sentence may still express a hope or prediction rather than a guarantee.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the later outcome word. After a long search, we ___ found the key. (eventually / possibly)

   Show answer or example answer

   eventually

   Eventually reports the outcome after the search.

2. Decide what a future hope guarantees. She hopes it will eventually help. Does the hope guarantee it will? (no / yes)

   Show answer or example answer

   no

   A hope about the future is not a guarantee.

3. Decide whether duration is specified. We eventually found it. Does eventually state an exact duration? (no / yes)

   Show answer or example answer

   no

   The word gives no exact duration by itself.

Use it today

Describe a problem and what happened eventually; state how long it took only if known.