ultimately.

At the final stage, or when the most fundamental result or consideration is reached.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• ultimately depends on
• ultimately responsible
• ultimately led to

On the page

The negotiations ultimately produced a narrower agreement than either side proposed.

The success of the reform ultimately depends on whether local offices can implement it.

Several officials processed the application, but the director was ultimately responsible for the refusal.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic. Does not always indicate a chronological ending; can introduce the decisive consideration. Avoid using it to disguise an unsupported claim about inevitability. Adverb; invariant, with no inflected forms.