ultimate

American  

[uhl-tuh-mit] / ˈʌl tə mɪt /

adjective

1. last; furthest or farthest; ending a process or series.

   the ultimate point in a journey; the ultimate style in hats.

   Synonyms:

   uttermost, extreme

2. maximum; decisive; conclusive.

   the ultimate authority; the ultimate weapon.

   Synonyms:

   supreme

3. highest; not subsidiary.

   ultimate goal in life.

4. basic; fundamental; representing a limit beyond which further progress, as in investigation or analysis, is impossible.

   the ultimate particle; ultimate principles.

5. final; total.

   the ultimate consequences; the ultimate cost of a project.

   Antonyms:

   first

6. not to be improved upon or surpassed; greatest; unsurpassed.

   the ultimate vacation spot; the ultimate stupidity.

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noun

1. the final point; final result.

2. a fundamental fact or principle.

3. the best, greatest, or most extreme of its kind.

ultimate British  

/ ˈʌltɪmɪt /

adjective

1. conclusive in a series or process; last; final

   an ultimate question

2. the highest or most significant

   the ultimate goal

3. elemental, fundamental, basic, or essential

4. most extreme

   genocide is the ultimate abuse of human rights

5. final or total

   an ultimate cost of twenty million pounds

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noun

1. the most significant, highest, furthest, or greatest thing

Synonym Usage

See last ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subultimate
  adjective
• ultimately
  adverb
• ultimateness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ultimate

First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin ultimātus (past participle of ultimāre “to come to an end”), equivalent to Latin ultim(us) “last, most distant” + -ātus past participle suffix; see ultima, -ate ¹

Explanation

The last in a series can be described as the ultimate. A cheeky kid, when asked what she wants to be when she grows up, might say, "I want to be an actress, a singer, and a veterinarian, but my ultimate goal is to be President of the United States." A definition for the adjective ultimate is the furthest in space or time or the highest in degree or order. Traveling for business, you are flying first to London, then to Portugal, but your ultimate destination is South Africa. The kids ask you if they can invite friends over to play video games. It's a good idea to reply, "Mom isn't home from work yet and she's ultimate authority on the schedule."

Example Sentences

Yan said Hyperliquid’s ultimate goal is to house all of finance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

“He’s determined not to lose — he’s the ultimate competitor,” Thomas said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

Consequently, many view a heavy cash cushion not as a missed investment opportunity but as the ultimate financial shield.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

“If technology becomes the ultimate criterion, the human person risks being reduced to data, a cog in a machine or a commodity,” he wrote.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

It was the ultimate superior class of thief.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• preeminent
• transcendent
• utmost