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• last minute
  last minute

  noun

  the time just preceding a deadline or when some decisive action must be taken.
• last-minute
  last-minute

  noun

  (modifier) given or done at the latest possible time

last minute

American  

[min-it] / ˈmɪn ɪt /

noun

• last minutes
  plural

1. the time just preceding a deadline or when some decisive action must be taken.

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last-minute British  

noun

1. (modifier) given or done at the latest possible time

   last-minute preparations

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• last-minute
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• last minutes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of last minute

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

last minute last-minute

After Carney’s somber press conference to explain the breakdown of U.S. talks and accuse Washington of moving the goal posts at the last minute, Merz reached out to the Canadian leader.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

This would push down prices and allow Europe to inject more gas into storage at the last minute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Smaller and scruffier than the annual film events of Venice, Toronto or New York, the four-day festival has no competition or juried prizes and keeps its lineup secret until the last minute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Again, in the extra time, you try to take the game with you to Hearts and to Edinburgh, then you get a mental kick again in the last minute of the extra time.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Every year a few storms fixed their sights on New Orleans, and they always petered out at the last minute.

From "I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005" by Lauren Tarshis

She scheduled a last-minute news conference with nursing staff from Kansas City Public Schools to plead with parents to immunize their children.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026

It’s cozy and low-effort enough to make on repeat for just you and yours, but substantial — and just showy enough — to answer a last-minute “Come over for dinner!” text, too.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

One complaint: The Rams revised their uniforms and appear to have kept those shiny, rubbery appliqués that make the jerseys look like last-minute Halloween costumes from Walgreens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

She acknowledged the rushed process of the last-minute proposal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

After a flurry of last-minute preparations and speeches, marshals quickly arranged the marchers in a column, six abreast, and the march finally got under way at 12:47 p.m.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman