last

UK /lɑːst/ US /lɑːst/

adj 5verb 5noun 5det 2adv 2

Definitions

adj

Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.

Will try to fix it by myself for now: as a last resort, we can always take it to a grease monkey.

Eyes Wide Shut was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Most recent, latest, last so far.

The last time I saw him, he was married.

I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that[…]

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.

He is the last person to be accused of theft.

The last person I want to meet is Helen.

Being the only one remaining of its class.

Japan is the last empire.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Contending for principles of the last importance.

det

The (one) immediately before the present.

We went there last year.

I was last to go; you're next.

Closest in the past, or closest but one if the closest was very recent; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) ago, or the most recent instance before seven days (one week) ago.

It's Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.

When you say last Monday, do you mean the Monday just gone, or the one before that?

adv

Most recently.

When we last met, he was based in Toronto.

How long is't now since last yourself and I / Were in a mask?

after everything else; finally

As I arrived last of all, I'll go last to add the butter last.

last but not least

Collocations

(verb.)

ADV

long

This phone battery lasts long enough to get me through a full day of work.

forever, indefinitely

The old bridge lasted indefinitely even though no one had repaired it in decades.

never

I have never last seen her so angry about a simple mistake.

VERB + LAST

can/cannot, could (not)

The battery in my old phone could last only two days before needing a charge.

will/won't, would (not)

His interest in learning guitar lasted only a few weeks before he gave up.

be likely/unlikely to

The ceasefire agreement is unlikely to last more than a few weeks.

be expected to

seem to

The meeting seemed to last much longer than the scheduled two hours.

be built to

My grandmother's old leather jacket was built to last and she wore it for thirty years.

PREP

for

The battery in my phone lasts for about two days if I don't use it much.

into

The battery lasted into the afternoon before the phone finally died.

until

The music festival runs until last summer, when they decided to stop organizing it.

PHRASES

while sth lasts

We should enjoy this discount while it lasts before the store changes its prices.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the final stage or concluding parts of an event or occurrenc

noun — the time at which life ends

death

noun — the temporal end

verb — continue to live and avoid dying

verb — persist for a specified period of time

endure

adjective — lowest in rank or importance

last-place
lowest

adjective — not to be altered or undone

final

adjective — occurring at or forming an end or termination

adjective — highest in extent or degree

utmost

adjective — conclusive in a process or progression

adverb — the item at the end

Antonyms

first

Idioms & Phrases

last minute

An arbitrary (non-specific) point in time, too close to a deadline to reasonably begin a critical task.

I like to do everything at the last minute. It does tend to make me late for things, though.

every last

every; without exception (used for emphasis).

He never leaves without checking every last door.

at last

After a long time; eventually.

Now that the dog has stopped barking, perhaps we can at last get some rest.

last resort

The only remaining, often least desirable, option when all others have been excluded.

I wouldn't recommend doing surgery on yourself, unless it is a last resort.

last straw

A small addition to an already heavy burden which causes it to exceed the capacity.

That's the last straw; it's a petty demand but I’m already under too much work. I quit!

Example Bank

Will try to fix it by myself for now: as a last resort, we can always take it to a grease monkey.

Wiktionary

Eyes Wide Shut was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Wiktionary

Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpl

Wiktionary

We went there last year.

Wiktionary

I was last to go; you're next.

Wiktionary

It's Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, last is marked as slang, obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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