What does ultimately mean?
Word: Ultimately
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Ultimately means in the end, after a long time or a lot of events; also used to say what is most important in a situation.
Synonyms: finally, eventually, in the end
Antonyms: initially, at first
How do you spell ultimately?
Syllables: ul - ti - mate - ly
Tricky part: The e of ultimate stays when ly is added, so it is ultimately, not ultimatly.
Watch out for: ultimatly, ultimitly, ultimatley
Memory tip: Think of a batsman who stays in right to the final over: in ultimately, the e of ultimate stays in too when ly arrives.
Ultimately in a sentence
Example 1: We argued for an hour, but ultimately we agreed to go to the zoo.
Example 2: Ultimately, it is your own practice that will improve your spelling.
Example 3: The tiny seedling ultimately grew into the tall neem tree outside our gate.
Fun Fact
Ultimately comes from the Latin ultimus, 'last'. An ultimatum, a final set of demands, comes from the same word.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) separately
b) ultemately
c) deliberately
d) fortunately
Show answer
b) ultemately. The second vowel is i, as in ultimatum.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
After hours of searching, we ___ found the lost kitten asleep in a shoebox.
a) unduly
b) ultimately
c) utterly
d) untimely
Show answer
b) ultimately. Untimely means at the wrong time, and utterly and unduly mean completely and too much; after a long search it is ultimately.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
tylmaitlue
a) in a loud and angry way
b) at exactly the same moment
c) in a careless and hurried way
d) after everything else has happened
Show answer
d) after everything else has happened. The ten letters spell ultimately, which looks to how things turn out.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. ultimately 2. occasionally 3. immediately a. at once, without waiting b. now and then c. when all is said and done
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. Immediately means straight away, occasionally means now and then, and ultimately means at the end of it all.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. 'Ultimately, the choice is yours,' said Papa. He meant that ___.
a) you had to choose at once
b) the choice did not matter
c) in the end you must decide
d) he would decide for you
Show answer
c) in the end you must decide
2. A long chess game ultimately ended in a draw. The draw came ___.
a) before the first move
b) after many moves
c) halfway through
d) at the very start
Show answer
b) after many moves
