last

[ last, lahst ]

/ læst, lɑst /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR last ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective a superl. of late with later as compar.

occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place: the last line on a page.

most recent; next before the present; latest: last week; last Friday.

being the only one remaining: my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance.

final: in his last hours.

ultimate or conclusive; definitive: the last word in the argument.

lowest in prestige or importance: last prize.

coming after all others in suitability or likelihood; least desirable: He is the last person we'd want to represent us.

individual; single: The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.

utmost; extreme: the last degree of delight.

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

adverb

after all others; latest: He arrived last at the party.

on the most recent occasion: When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.

in the end; finally; in conclusion.

noun

a person or thing that is last.

a final appearance or mention: We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.

the end or conclusion: We are going on vacation the last of September.

Nearby words

lassi, lassie, lassitude, lasso, lassus, last, last analysis, last but not least, last chance saloon, last fling, last gasp

Idioms

at last, after a lengthy pause or delay: He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.

at long last, after much troublesome or frustrating delay: The ship docked at long last.

breathe one's last, to die: He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.

Origin of last

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

SYNONYMS FOR last

1 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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR last ON THESAURUS.COM

Can be confused

last penultimate ultimate

Definition for last (2 of 5)

last

[ last, lahst ]

/ læst, lɑst /

verb (used without object)

to go on or continue in time: The festival lasted three weeks.

to continue unexpended or unexhausted; be enough: We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.

to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.: to last for the whole course.

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)

to continue to survive for the duration of (often followed by out): They lasted the war in Switzerland.

Origin of last

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 last³

Synonym study

1. See continue.

Definition for last (3 of 5)

last

[ last, lahst ]

/ læst, lɑst /

noun

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

the shape or form of a shoe.

verb (used with object)

to shape on or fit to a last.

Origin of last

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

Related forms

last·er, noun

Definition for last (4 of 5)

last

⁴

[ last, lahst ]

/ læst, lɑst /

noun

any of various large units of weight or capacity, varying in amount in different localities and for different commodities, often equivalent to 4000 pounds (1814.37 kilograms).

Origin of last

⁴

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

Definition for last (5 of 5)

late

[ leyt ]

/ leɪt /

adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, lat·est or last.

occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.

continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting.

near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour.

belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin.

immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general.

recently deceased: the late Mr. Phipps.

occurring at an advanced stage in life: a late marriage.

belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something: the late phase of feudalism.

adverb, lat·er, lat·est.

after the usual or proper time, or after delay: to arrive late.

until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night: to work late.

at or to an advanced time, period, or stage: The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.

recently but no longer: a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.

Origin of late

before 900; Middle English; Old English læt slow, late; cognate with German lass slothful, Old Norse latr, Gothic lats slow, lazy, Latin lassus tired

SYNONYMS FOR late

1 tardy; slow, dilatory; delayed, belated.

4 See modern.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR late ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

late·ness, nouno·ver·late, adjectiveo·ver·late·ness, noun

Can be confused

former later latter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for last

In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As of Thursday night, the brothers remained on the loose, last seen in northern France.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A Charlie Hebdo reporter said that security provision had been relaxed in the last month or so and the police car disappeared.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What criticisms of last season did you find helpful, and not so helpful?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Drugeon survived an airstrike last year and is believed to be still at large, officials have said.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I deliberately asked him to dine with me last night in London.
The Diva's Ruby|F. Marion Crawford
The advantages conferred upon us by abundant supplies of iron and by cheap labour will not last for ever.
Ancient and Modern Ships.|George C. V. Holmes
This last proviso, however, as we shall see, takes away almost all practical importance from the proposition.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4|Various
I knew in what manner patients were treated at the hospital, and removal thither was to the last degree abhorred.
Arthur Mervyn|Charles Brockden Brown
It seemed to Polly that the days fairly crept by, instead of galloping past as they had been wont to do in the last three years.
Polly's Southern Cruise|Lillian Elizabeth Roy

British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 5)

last

/ (lɑːst) /

adjective (often prenominal)

being, happening, or coming at the end or after all othersthe last horse in the race

being or occurring just before the present; most recentlast Thursday

last but not least coming last in order but nevertheless important

last but one next to last

only remainingone's last cigarette

most extreme; utmost

least suitable, appropriate, or likelyhe was the last person I would have chosen

(esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)

final or ultimatelast rites
(capital)the Last Judgment

(postpositive) Liverpool dialect inferior, unpleasant, or contemptiblethis ale is last

adverb

after all others; at or in the endhe came last

most recentlyhe was last seen in the mountains
(in combination)last-mentioned

(sentence modifier) as the last or latest item

noun

the last

a person or thing that is last
the final moment; end

one's last moments before death

the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last)

the final appearance, mention, or occurrencewe've seen the last of him

at last in the end; finally

at long last finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

Word Origin for last

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

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

British Dictionary definitions for last (2 of 5)

last

/ (lɑːst) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by for) to remain in being (for a length of time); continuehis hatred lasted for several years

to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time)it will last us until Friday

(when intr, often foll by for) to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration)he lasted for three hours underground

Derived Forms

laster, noun

Word Origin for last

Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

British Dictionary definitions for last (3 of 5)

last

/ (lɑːst) /

noun

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

verb

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

Derived Forms

laster, noun

Word Origin for last

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

British Dictionary definitions for last (4 of 5)

last

⁴

/ (lɑːst) /

noun

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

Word Origin for last

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade 1

British Dictionary definitions for last (5 of 5)

late

/ (leɪt) /

adjective

occurring or arriving after the correct or expected timethe train was late

(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced timea late marriage

(prenominal) towards or near the endthe late evening

at an advanced time in the evening or at nightit was late

(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present timehis late remarks on industry

(prenominal) having died, esp recentlymy late grandfather

(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; formerthe late manager of this firm

of late recently; lately

adverb

after the correct or expected timehe arrived late

at a relatively advanced ageshe married late

recently; latelyas late as yesterday he was selling books

late hours rising and going to bed later than is usual

late in the day

at a late or advanced stage
too late

Derived Forms

lateness, noun

Word Origin for late

Old English læt; related to Old Norse latr, Gothic lats

usage

Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late) editor of The Times

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with last (1 of 2)

last

In addition to the idioms beginning with last

last analysis
last but not least
last fling
last gasp
last laugh, have the
last resort
last straw, the
last word, the

also see:

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

Idioms and Phrases with last (2 of 2)

late

In addition to the idioms beginning with late

late in life
late in the day

also see:

at the latest
better late than never
Johnny-come-lately
keep late hours
of late
the latest
too little, too late

Also see underlater.

last

adjective a superl. of late with later as compar.

adverb

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of last

SYNONYMS FOR last

Can be confused

Definition for last (2 of 5)

last

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of last

Synonym study

Definition for last (3 of 5)

last

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of last

Related forms

Definition for last (4 of 5)

last

noun

Origin of last

Definition for last (5 of 5)

late

adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, lat·est or last.

adverb, lat·er, lat·est.

Origin of late

SYNONYMS FOR late

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 5)

last

adjective (often prenominal)

adverb

noun

Word Origin for last

usage

British Dictionary definitions for last (2 of 5)

last

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (3 of 5)

last

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (4 of 5)

last

noun

Word Origin for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (5 of 5)

late

adjective

adverb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for late

usage

Idioms and Phrases with last (1 of 2)

last

Idioms and Phrases with last (2 of 2)

late