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View synonyms for last

last

1

[ last, lahst ]

adjective

  1. occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place:

    the last line on a page.

  2. most recent; next before the present; latest:

    last week; last Friday.

  3. being the only one remaining:

    my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance.

  4. in his last hours.

  5. ultimate or conclusive; definitive:

    the last word in the argument.

  6. lowest in prestige or importance:

    last prize.

  7. coming after all others in suitability or likelihood; least desirable:

    He is the last person we'd want to represent us.

  8. The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.

  9. the last degree of delight.

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

adverb

  1. after all others; latest:

    He arrived last at the party.

  2. on the most recent occasion:

    When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.

  3. in the end; finally; in conclusion.

noun

  1. a person or thing that is last.
  2. a final appearance or mention:

    We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.

  3. the end or conclusion:

    We are going on vacation the last of September.

last

2

[ last, lahst ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to go on or continue in time:

    The festival lasted three weeks.

  2. to continue unexpended or unexhausted; be enough:

    We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.

  3. to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.:

    to last for the whole course.

  4. 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)

  1. to continue to survive for the duration of (often followed by out ):

    They lasted the war in Switzerland.

last

3

[ last, lahst ]

noun

  1. a wooden or metal form in the shape of the human foot on which boots or shoes are shaped or repaired.
  2. the shape or form of a shoe.

verb (used with object)

  1. to shape on or fit to a last.

last

4

[ last, lahst ]

noun

  1. 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).

last

1

/ lɑːst /

noun

  1. 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

last

2

/ lɑːst /

adjective

  1. being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others

    the last horse in the race

  2. being or occurring just before the present; most recent

    last Thursday

  3. last but not least
    last but not least coming last in order but nevertheless important
  4. last but one
    last but one next to last
  5. only remaining

    one's last cigarette

  6. most extreme; utmost
  7. least suitable, appropriate, or likely

    he was the last person I would have chosen

  8. esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world
    1. final or ultimate

      last rites

    2. ( capital )

      the Last Judgment

  9. dialect.
    postpositive inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible

    this ale is last

adverb

  1. after all others; at or in the end

    he came last

    1. most recently

      he was last seen in the mountains

    2. ( in combination )

      last-mentioned

  3. sentence modifier as the last or latest item

noun

  1. the last
    the last
    1. a person or thing that is last
    2. the final moment; end
  2. one's last moments before death
  3. the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last )
  4. the final appearance, mention, or occurrence

    we've seen the last of him

  5. at last
    at last in the end; finally
  6. at long last
    at long last finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

last

3

/ lɑːst /

noun

  1. the wooden or metal form on which a shoe or boot is fashioned or repaired

verb

  1. tr to fit (a shoe or boot) on a last

last

4

/ lɑːst /

verb

  1. whenintr, often foll by for to remain in being (for a length of time); continue

    his hatred lasted for several years

  2. to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time)

    it will last us until Friday

  3. whenintr, often foll by for to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration)

    he lasted for three hours underground

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Usage

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

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Derived Forms

  • ˈlaster, noun
  • ˈlaster, noun

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Other Words From

  • laster noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of last1

First recorded before 900; Middle English last, latst, syncopated variant of latest, Old English latest, lætest, superlative of læt; late

Origin of last2

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 last 3

Origin of last3

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”

Origin of last4

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hlæst; cognate with Dutch last, German Last “load”; akin to lade

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Word History and Origins

Origin of last1

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade 1

Origin of last2

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

Origin of last3

Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists

Origin of last4

Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. at last, after a lengthy pause or delay:

    He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.

  2. at long last, after much troublesome or frustrating delay:

    The ship docked at long last.

  3. breathe one's last, to die:

    He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.

  4. stick to one's last, to keep to that work, field, etc., in which one is competent or skilled.

More idioms and phrases containing last

  • 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

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.

A Charlie Hebdo reporter said that security provision had been relaxed in the last month or so and the police car disappeared.

What criticisms of last season did you find helpful, and not so helpful?

Drugeon survived an airstrike last year and is believed to be still at large, officials have said.

As of Thursday night, the brothers remained on the loose, last seen in northern France.

Among the Perpendicular additions to the church last named may be noted a very beautiful oaken rood-screen.

It seems very strange that I shall actually know Liszt at last, after hearing of him so many years.

The strains of the syren at last woke her uncle, and brought back Miss Hood, who suggested that it was late.

Dick was at the wharf, one day last week, when one of the up river boats arrived.

At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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