last

¹

[ last, lahst ]

adjective

1. occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place:

   the last line on a page.

2. most recent; next before the present; latest:

   last week; last Friday.

3. being the only one remaining:

   my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance.

4. final:

   in his last hours.

5. ultimate or conclusive; definitive:

   the last word in the argument.

6. lowest in prestige or importance:

   last prize.

7. coming after all others in suitability or likelihood; least desirable:

   He is the last person we'd want to represent us.

8. individual; single:

   The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.

9. utmost; extreme:

   the last degree of delight.

10. Ecclesiastical. (of the sacraments of penance, viaticum, or extreme unction) extreme or final; administered to a person dying or in danger of dying.

adverb

1. after all others; latest:

   He arrived last at the party.

2. on the most recent occasion:

   When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.

3. in the end; finally; in conclusion.

noun

1. a person or thing that is last.
2. a final appearance or mention:

   We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.

3. the end or conclusion:

   We are going on vacation the last of September.

last

²

[ last, lahst ]

verb (used without object)

1. to go on or continue in time:

   The festival lasted three weeks.

2. to continue unexpended or unexhausted; be enough:

   We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.

3. to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.:

   to last for the whole course.

4. to continue or remain in usable condition for a reasonable period of time:

   They were handsome shoes but they didn't last.

verb (used with object)

1. to continue to survive for the duration of (often followed by out ):

   They lasted the war in Switzerland.

last

³

[ last, lahst ]

noun

1. a wooden or metal form in the shape of the human foot on which boots or shoes are shaped or repaired.
2. the shape or form of a shoe.

verb (used with object)

1. to shape on or fit to a last.

last

⁴

[ last, lahst ]

noun

1. any of various large units of weight or capacity, varying in amount in different localities and for different commodities, often equivalent to 4,000 pounds (1,814.37 kilograms).

last

¹

/ lɑːst /

adjective

1. being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others

   the last horse in the race

2. being or occurring just before the present; most recent

   last Thursday

3. last but not least
   coming last in order but nevertheless important
4. last but one
   next to last
5. only remaining

   one's last cigarette

6. most extreme; utmost
7. least suitable, appropriate, or likely

   he was the last person I would have chosen

8. esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world
   1. final or ultimate

      last rites

   2. ( capital )

      the Last Judgment

9. dialect.
   postpositive inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible

   this ale is last

adverb

1. after all others; at or in the end

   he came last

2. 1. most recently

      he was last seen in the mountains

   2. ( in combination )

      last-mentioned

3. sentence modifier as the last or latest item

noun

1. the last
   1. a person or thing that is last
   2. the final moment; end
2. one's last moments before death
3. the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last )
4. the final appearance, mention, or occurrence

   we've seen the last of him

5. at last
   in the end; finally
6. at long last
   finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

last

²

/ lɑːst /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by for to remain in being (for a length of time); continue

   his hatred lasted for several years

2. to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time)

   it will last us until Friday

3. whenintr, often foll by for to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration)

   he lasted for three hours underground

last

³

/ lɑːst /

noun

1. a unit of weight or capacity having various values in different places and for different commodities. Commonly used values are 2 tons, 2000 pounds, 80 bushels, or 640 gallons

last

⁴

/ lɑːst /

noun

1. the wooden or metal form on which a shoe or boot is fashioned or repaired

verb

1. tr to fit (a shoe or boot) on a last

Usage

Since last can mean either after all others or most recent, it is better to avoid using this word where ambiguity might arise as in her last novel. Final or latest should be used in such contexts to avoid ambiguity

Derived Forms

• ˈlaster, noun
• ˈlaster, noun

Other Words From

• laster noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of last¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English last, latst, syncopated variant of latest, Old English latest, lætest, superlative of læt; late

Origin of last²

First recorded before 900; Middle English lasten, Old English lǣstan “to follow (literally, go in the tracks of ), perform, continue, last”; cognate with German laisten “to follow,” Gothic laistjan. See last ³

Origin of last³

First recorded before 900; Middle English lest(e), last(e), Old English lǣste; cognate with German Leisten; akin to Old English lāst, Gothic laists “track”

Origin of last⁴

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hlæst; cognate with Dutch last, German Last “load”; akin to lade

Word History and Origins

Origin of last¹

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

Origin of last²

Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

Origin of last³

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade ¹

Origin of last⁴

Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at last, after a lengthy pause or delay:

   He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.

2. at long last, after much troublesome or frustrating delay:

   The ship docked at long last.

3. breathe one's last, to die:

   He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.

4. stick to one's last, to keep to that work, field, etc., in which one is competent or skilled.

More idioms and phrases containing last

• at last
• at the last minute
• breathe one's last
• each and every (last one)
• famous last words
• first and last
• head for (the last roundup)
• in the final (last) analysis
• on one's last legs
• see the last of
• stick to one's last
• to the last

Synonym Study

Last, final, ultimate refer to what comes as an ending. That which is last comes or stands after all others in a stated series or succession; last may refer to objects or activities: a seat in the last row; the last game. That which is final comes at the end, or serves to end or terminate, admitting of nothing further; final is rarely used of objects: to make a final attempt. That which is ultimate (literally, most remote) is the last that can be reached, as in progression or regression, experience, or a course of investigation: ultimate truths.

See continue.

Related Words

• remain
• survive