last

[ last, lahst ]

See synonyms for: last lasted lastest lasting on Thesaurus.com

adjective,a superlative of late, with later as comparative.

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.

Idioms about last

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

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

synonym study 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.

Words that may be confused with last

last , penultimate, ultimate

Words Nearby last

Other definitions for last (2 of 4)

last²

[ last, lahst ]

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

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 last³

synonym study For last

1. See continue.

Other definitions for last (3 of 4)

last³

[ last, lahst ]

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

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”

Other words from last

laster, noun

Other definitions for last (4 of 4)

last⁴

[ last, lahst ]

noun

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).

Origin of last

⁴

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use last in a sentence

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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE DAILY BEAST

Among the Perpendicular additions to the church last named may be noted a very beautiful oaken rood-screen.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 4 | Various
It seems very strange that I shall actually know Liszt at last, after hearing of him so many years.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
The strains of the syren at last woke her uncle, and brought back Miss Hood, who suggested that it was late.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
Dick was at the wharf, one day last week, when one of the up river boats arrived.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various

British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 4)

last¹

/ (lɑːst) /

adjective(often prenominal)

being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others: the last horse in the race
being or occurring just before the present; most recent: last Thursday

last but not least coming last in order but nevertheless important
last but one next to last
only remaining: one's last cigarette
most extreme; utmost
least suitable, appropriate, or likely: he was the last person I would have chosen
(esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)
- final or ultimate: last rites
- (capital): the Last Judgment
(postpositive) Liverpool dialect inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible: this ale is last

adverb

after all others; at or in the end: he came last
- most recently: he 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 occurrence: we've seen the last of him
at last in the end; finally
at long last finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

Origin of last

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

usage For last

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 4)

last²

/ (lɑːst) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by for) to remain in being (for a length of time); continue: his 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

Origin of last

Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

See also last out

Derived forms of last

laster, noun

British Dictionary definitions for last (3 of 4)

last³

/ (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

Origin of last

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

Derived forms of last

laster, noun

British Dictionary definitions for last (4 of 4)

last⁴

/ (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

Origin of last

⁴

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade 1

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with last

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

Browse