Abstract: Continuous feeding of workpieces to an apparatus and effective use of the space around the apparatus are difficult in rotary abrasive finishing. To solve such problems, the present invention provides a conceptually novel method and apparatus for linear abrasive finishing. A pair of parallel flat surface plates adjacent in parallel move linearly in opposite directions. A workpiece is pressed onto both of the surface plates to apply a couple of forces for rotational movement to the workpiece. The workpiece is subjected to abrasive finishing with abrasive grains by relative movement between the rotation of the workpiece and the linear movement of the pair of surface plates. The workpiece may be held between the pair of parallel flat surface plates and another pair of parallel flat surface plates facing the pair of parallel flat surface plates before one or both surfaces of the workpiece are subjected to the abrasive finishing.