やっと

What it means

What does やっと mean? It means 'at last' or 'finally' after a long wait or effort, conveying relief that something has happened; used to describe completion after difficulty.

Main meanings

• After a long wait or effort, something happens and there is relief or satisfaction.
• Conveys the sense of 'barely' or 'just' in contexts where the outcome was uncertain or difficult.
• Predominantly used as an adverb and can modify verbs or adjectives in past contexts.

How to use it

Used in casual and neutral contexts to describe the moment something finally happens after delay or effort; attaches before the main verb or before a following clause, and is common in narrative speech and everyday conversation; typically used with verbs in the past tense.