: done or coming at the very end
a last-gasp attempt to score
last gasp noun

Examples of last-gasp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Comets beat the St. Louis Ambush 8-7 Saturday night after a last-gasp KC equalizer forced overtime in front of 5,126 fans at Cable Dahmer Arena. Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Eight years later, Morejon represents the Padres’ last-gasp effort to groom a consistent full-time big leaguer amid all of that money — nearly $80 million. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 Mbappé grabbed a last-gasp winner when the sides met in October but this time saw a late effort blocked by defender Brendan Chardonnet. Jerome Pugmire, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2024 Rice’s last-gasp three-point shot at the buzzer went off the glass and nearly bounced through the rim, but her career-best 25 points wasn’t enough to lead No. 2 UCLA to a comeback victory over Washington State at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024 Charlotte then made two free-throws, and Towns last-gasp at a game-tying triple at the horn fell woefully short, sealing one of the more embarrassing losses in franchise history. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2024 For many, The Marathon Project will offer a last-gasp opportunity to salvage something from an otherwise grim year. Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 12 Dec. 2020 In 1980, thousands of them fought running battles at Scotland’s national stadium after Celtic scored a last-gasp, extra-time winner in the final game of the season. James Hookway, WSJ, 29 Dec. 2023 Think Georges Rouault with dashes of last-gasp Picasso, Guston and James Ensor riffing on themes out of Caravaggio. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'last-gasp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last-gasp was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near last-gasp

Cite this Entry

“Last-gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-gasp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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