last
1[ last, lahst ]
/ læst, lɑst /
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adjective, a superlative of late, with later as comparative.
adverb
noun
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Idioms about last
Origin of last
1First 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, ultimateOther definitions for last (2 of 4)
last2
[ last, lahst ]
/ læst, lɑst /
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
2First 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 ]
/ læst, lɑst /
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
3First 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, nounOther definitions for last (4 of 4)
last4
[ last, lahst ]
/ læst, lɑst /
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
4First 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
British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 4)
last1
/ (lɑːst) /
adjective (often prenominal)
adverb
noun
Word Origin for 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); continuehis 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
See also last out
Derived forms of last
laster, nounWord Origin for last
Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow
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
Derived forms of last
laster, nounWord Origin for last
Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists
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
Word Origin for last
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
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Other Idioms and Phrases with last
last
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.