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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

To avoid police raids, kids strategized, coming up with systems that would keep party and rave sites secret until the last minute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

"How are we supposed to deal with angry and confused prisoners when we find out about the plans last minute?" he asked.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Over the weekend, Carney said US negotiators had sought restrictions on Canadian trade deals with other countries at the last minute.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Raman tried until the last minute to get the county to remain in LAHSA.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Sometimes Joe seemed to have forced Frank into a corner, but at the last minute Frank would execute a daring escape.

From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon

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 major item is Senate Bill 193, a last-minute effort to settle how California spends its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund under the state’s recently renewed cap-and-invest program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

One patient who had waited five years for their own surgery said they were "heartbroken" at the last-minute decision.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Now schools regularly make last-minute offers through the summer to poach students who have accepted offers at other colleges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

He told Lina about pinning his last-minute message to the kiosk in Selverton Square.

From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau