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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

Luis Espinola, a 61-year-old hotel employee, put it this way: "With Paraguay you have to suffer until the last minute."

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

The idea to safeguard King’s rights to the speech came at the last minute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Desperate to save the card, the UFC tapped Al Iaquinta to step up at the last minute.

From Slate • Jun. 14, 2026

Then, at the last minute, I dove behind a chalk signboard advertising train tickets to Cincinnati.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan