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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

“I’ve been involved in many tight races in the past and understand last minute ‘needs’ come up,” he continued.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

It seems like McKinley wants to deliver a crushing blow, but then feints at the last minute, opting for a more optimistic kind of fantasy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

The U.S. and Canada nearly came to a trade agreement in late August, but the talks fell apart at the last minute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Former Dutch PM Rutte has been encouraging members of the alliance not to defer spending increases until the last minute.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

But at the last minute I change my mind and simply leave his room.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na

Pike's lawyers, who filed a 226-page clemency petition, hoped for a last-minute reprieve of her execution, but it was rejected, while United Nations human rights experts had also called for the execution to be stopped.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

But such a last-minute stay of execution brings its own challenges for those to whom they are granted.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

The procession had survived a series of last-minute legal challenges.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

It’s a luxury hotel, expensive meals and a last-minute upgrade because, “why not?”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

There would be no last-minute need for me to be called in as had happened with John Glenn.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson