penultimate

[ pi-nuhl-tuh-mit ]

adjective

1. next to the last:

   the penultimate scene of the play.

2. of or relating to a penult or the next to the last syllable in a word:

   In the word appropriate, -pri- is the penultimate syllable.

noun

1. a penult.

penultimate

/ pɪˈnʌltɪmɪt /

adjective

1. next to the last

noun

1. anything that is next to the last, esp a penult

Word History and Origins

Origin of penultimate¹

First recorded in 1670–80; penult, ultimate

Word History and Origins

Origin of penultimate¹

C17: from Latin paene almost + ultimate , on the model of Latin paenultimus

Example Sentences

Astonishing, then, to move from this, the show’s penultimate gallery, into a much smaller room that feels like a private side chapel or monk’s cell installed with “One Candle,” from 1989.

From Washington Post

Woods crossed the penultimate Cat 1 climb, the Col de Romme, more than a minute ahead of his rivals.

From Outside Online

If I were Shota, who won the penultimate challenge and yet still had to compete against two other cooks in the finale, I’d be pretty annoyed right now.

From Time

Multiple refugia from penultimate glaciations in East Asia demonstrated by phylogeography and ecological modelling of an insect pest.

From Nautilus

Weddings may be a staple of TV series wrapping up their runs, but the medium had never seen one quite like the showstopper FX’s Pose staged for Sunday’s penultimate episode.

From Time

But then that big bang that ended the penultimate episode happened.

From The Daily Beast

And on the penultimate episode of The Bachelor, Assistant District Attorney Andi became the second to reject him.

From The Daily Beast

Just look at the penultimate symbol of urban renaissance, Brooklyn.

From The Daily Beast

The penultimate episode of the series found Walter White (Bryan Cranston) alone in a New Hampshire cabin.

From The Daily Beast

The penultimate band is $200,000 to $250,000, which is ten times as wide as the previous band.

From The Daily Beast

It is a derivative word, from Algonkin, and gan the penultimate syllable of the Odjibwa term Sa-g--gan, a lake.

From Project Gutenberg

Inner lip rather thick and reflected on the base of the penultimate whorl.

From Project Gutenberg

"You would not have known me then," returned Lady Sellingworth, with the slightest possible stress on the penultimate word.

From Project Gutenberg

"I don't doubt your friendship for Mr. Armine," he said, at last, laying a faint stress upon the penultimate word.

From Project Gutenberg

It is fully dealt with in the von Berlepsch Bill in the above-mentioned provision of the penultimate paragraph of § 120a.

From Project Gutenberg