There are several situations in which only one of them can be used, but also situations in which either can be used depending on the context. Here's a good link I found that explains the difference: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/67063/eventually-vs-finally In general, you will find that eventual refers to the end of something at 'some point in time', meaning that you know that something will probably meet an end, but you don't know how long from now that will be or when that will be. Final means the very last in a succession, usually at a more defined point in time. For example: The eventual king will pass the law. - Maybe there isn't a king in power now, but there probably will be in the future. The final king will pass the law. -There may or may not be a king now, but there definitely will be another king in the future. He will be the last king that there will ever be.