ようやく・漸くyouyaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverbfinally; at last
   「そっか」ウィリーはようやく納得なっとくした。↗

   "Well, OK," Willie finally agreed.
2. adverbbarely; narrowly; hardly; only just
   ９時じ２０分ぶんの汽車きしゃにようやく間に合まにあった。↗

   I barely made the 9:20 train.

   ９時じ２０分ぶんの電車でんしゃにようやく間に合まにあった。↗

   I barely made the 9:20 train.
3. adverbgradually; little by little; by degrees

• SynonymついにNeutralFinally, in the end: reaching a result after a long time, for better or worse. Unlike 「漸く」, it carries no sense of hard-won effort.
• SynonymとうとうNeutralIn the end, finally: typically for something hoped for or feared that ultimately happens; 「漸く」 stresses achievement after struggle.
• Related挙句あげくNeutralAfter much back-and-forth; usually introduces a negative result, as in 「悩んだ挙句」.
• Related挙句の果てあげくのはてNeutralA set phrase: after going back and forth at length, things end up — often contrary to hopes, with a negative result.
• AntonymすぐNeutralRight away, immediately — the opposite of 「漸く」, which suggests something achieved only after great effort.
• Antonym即座そくざWrittenOn the spot, at once; a written/formal term, the opposite of 「漸く」.

Use 「漸く」 for gradual change or hard-won achievement. For the final result itself use 「遂に」; for something hoped for or feared finally happening, 「到頭」; for the outcome after much back-and-forth, 「挙句」. 「直ぐ」 and 「即座」 mean the opposite: right away.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （やや古いにしえ）次第しだいに。だんだん。
2. しばらくして。
3. やっと。かろうじて。