last

⁵last

adj

Definition of LAST

1

a : following all the rest <he was the last one out> b : being the only remaining <our last dollar>

2

: belonging to the final stage (as of life) <his last hours on earth>

3

a : next before the present : most recent <last week> <his last book was a failure> b : most up-to-date : latest <it's the last thing in fashion>

4

a : lowest in rank or standing; also : worst b : farthest from a specified quality, attitude, or likelihood <would be the last person to fall for flattery>

5

a : conclusive <there is no last answer to the problem> b : highest in degree : supreme, ultimate c : distinct, separate —used as an intensive <ate every last piece of food>

— last·ly adverb

Examples of LAST

1. He was the last one out of the building.
2. She succeeded on her last attempt.
3. These are the last two books in the series.
4. We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
5. the last cookie in the jar
6. She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
7. He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
8. I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party.

First Known Use of LAST

13th century

Related to LAST

Synonyms: bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, latest, latter, rearmost, terminal, terminating, ultimate

Antonyms: beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, opening, original, pioneer, primary, starting

Related Words: consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding; conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive; farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, remotest; lowermost, lowest, nethermost; endmost, extreme, outermost, outmost, utmost; penultimate

Near Antonyms: eminent, premier, superior

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of LAST

last, final, terminal, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance). last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped <last page of a book> <last news we had of him>. final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress <final day of school>. terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development <terminal phase of a disease>. ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible <the ultimate collapse of the system>.