ultimate

¹ul·ti·mate

adjective \ˈəl-tə-mət\

Definition of ULTIMATE

1

a : most remote in space or time : farthest

b : last in a progression or series : final <their ultimate destination was Paris>

c : eventual 2 <they hoped for ultimate success>

d : the best or most extreme of its kind : utmost <the ultimate sacrifice>

2

: arrived at as the last result <the ultimate question>

3

a : basic, fundamental <the ultimate nature of things — A. N. Whitehead>

b : original 1 <the ultimate source>

c : incapable of further analysis, division, or separation

— ul·ti·mate·ness noun

Examples of ULTIMATE

1. Their ultimate fate has not yet been decided.
2. Our ultimate aim is to increase production.

Origin of ULTIMATE

Medieval Latin ultimatus last, final, from Late Latin, past participle of ultimare to come to an end, be last, from Latin ultimus farthest, last, final, superl. of Latin *ulter situated beyond

First Known Use: 1640

Related to ULTIMATE

Synonyms

consummate, last, max, maximum, most, nth, outside, paramount, supreme, top, utmost, uttermost

Antonyms

least, minimal, minimum, slightest

Related Words

unequaled (or unequalled), unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled (or unrivalled), unsurpassed; biggest, hugest, largest; topmost, upmost, uppermost

Near Antonyms

littlest, minutest, smallest, tiniest; lowest; fewest

See Synonym Discussion at last

²ultimate

noun

Definition of ULTIMATE

1

: something ultimate; especially : fundamental

2

: acme

3

capitalized : ultimate frisbee

First Known Use of ULTIMATE

1681

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary

³ul·ti·mate

verb \-mət, -ˌmāt\

ul·ti·mat·edul·ti·mat·ing

Definition of ULTIMATE

: end

First Known Use of ULTIMATE

circa 1834