last

[ last, lahst ]

/ læst, lɑst /

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See synonyms for: last / lasted / lastest / lasting on Thesaurus.com

adjective, a superlative of late, with later as comparative.

occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place: the last line on a page.

most recent; next before the present; latest: last week; last Friday.

being the only one remaining: my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance.

final: in his last hours.

ultimate or conclusive; definitive: the last word in the argument.

lowest in prestige or importance: last prize.

coming after all others in suitability or likelihood; least desirable: He is the last person we'd want to represent us.

individual; single: The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.

utmost; extreme: the last degree of delight.

Ecclesiastical. (of the sacraments of penance, viaticum, or extreme unction) extreme or final; administered to a person dying or in danger of dying.

adverb

after all others; latest: He arrived last at the party.

on the most recent occasion: When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.

in the end; finally; in conclusion.

noun

a person or thing that is last.

a final appearance or mention: We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.

the end or conclusion: We are going on vacation the last of September.

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Idioms about last

at last, after a lengthy pause or delay: He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.

at long last, after much troublesome or frustrating delay: The ship docked at long last.

breathe one's last, to die: He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.

Origin of last

First 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, ultimate

Other 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

First 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

First 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, noun

Other 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

⁴

First 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

The certification, which lasts three years, was renewed by then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in 2012.
The Detainee Abuse Photos Obama Didn’t Want You To See|Noah Shachtman, Tim Mak|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His game lasts until his final ship has either collided with an asteroid or lost a shootout with an enemy saucer.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That lasts about five years, in which time the place has been altered, developed, and ravaged just enough to make you mad.
Can Carl Hiaasen Save Florida?|Malcolm Jones|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We fill every container, bucket and bathtub in the house and it lasts us until the next time.
Beating Cancer & Dodging Israel's Bombs|Itay Hod|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This, and worse, is what kids in Gaza experience, and the mental anguish lasts long after the fighting stops.
Palestinian Kids’ PTSD Could Last Generations|Russell Saunders|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another of the firm's commercials suggested the rivetting if iron lasts were used.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
There is no remedy for this; the end of the procession, which often lasts four or six hours, must be waited for with patience.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
To be able to repeat great po-ems at will, is to have a treasure you can allus carry with you while your voice lasts.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Blossoms and fruit in full maturity are found upon the trees at the same time, and hence the harvest lasts nearly the whole year.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
If she lasts a couple of hours, I shall be surprised, said the apothecarys apprentice, intent upon the toothpicks point.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 4)

last¹

/ (lɑːst) /

adjective (often prenominal)

being, happening, or coming at the end or after all othersthe last horse in the race

being or occurring just before the present; most recentlast Thursday

last but not least coming last in order but nevertheless important

last but one next to last

only remainingone's last cigarette

most extreme; utmost

least suitable, appropriate, or likelyhe was the last person I would have chosen

(esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)

final or ultimatelast rites
(capital)the Last Judgment

(postpositive) Liverpool dialect inferior, unpleasant, or contemptiblethis ale is last

adverb

after all others; at or in the endhe came last

most recentlyhe was last seen in the mountains
(in combination)last-mentioned

(sentence modifier) as the last or latest item

noun

the last

a person or thing that is last
the final moment; end

one's last moments before death

the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last)

the final appearance, mention, or occurrencewe've seen the last of him

at last in the end; finally

at long last finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

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

Derived forms of last

laster, noun

Word 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, noun

Word 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with last

last

In addition to the idioms beginning with last

last analysis
last but not least
last fling
last gasp
last laugh, have the
last resort
last straw, the
last word, the

also see:

at last
at the last minute
breathe one's last
each and every (last one)
famous last words
first and last
head for (the last roundup)
in the final (last) analysis
on one's last legs
see the last of
stick to one's last
to the last

last

Idioms about last

Origin of last

synonym study for last

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH last

Other definitions for last (2 of 4)

Origin of last

synonym study for last

Other definitions for last (3 of 4)

Origin of last

OTHER WORDS FROM last

Other definitions for last (4 of 4)

Origin of last

Words related to last

How to use last in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for last (1 of 4)

Word Origin for last

usage for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (2 of 4)

Derived forms of last

Word Origin for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (3 of 4)

Derived forms of last

Word Origin for last

British Dictionary definitions for last (4 of 4)

Word Origin for last

Other Idioms and Phrases with last