ultimate

[uhl-tuh-mit]

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.

noun

1. the final point; final result.

2. a fundamental fact or principle.

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

ultimate

/ 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

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• ultimately adverb
• ultimateness noun
• subultimate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultimate¹

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; ultima, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultimate¹

C17: from Late Latin ultimāre to come to an end, from Latin ultimus last, from ulter distant

Synonym Study

See last ¹.

Example Sentences

Now Su is staring down the ultimate goliath in Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company and the foremost maker of the chips that power AI data centers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“That’s no bloody wonder why he’s playing William Shakespeare, the ultimate humanist. Not many people can actually do that genuinely.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The ultimate goal of a general-purpose robot, one that can package goods, do household chores and assist in surgical procedures, is still years away.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now, their team say they are "exploring possibilities" as to whether guests will ever be permitted to "take the ultimate golden seat".

Read more on BBC

But he said it’s too early to know how the ultimate redistricting war will shake out.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• preeminent 
• transcendent 
• utmost