eleventh hour
noun
: the latest possible time before it is too late
still making changes at the eleventh hour
Examples of eleventh hour in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Without more, the court can only conclude that defense counsel is using the volume of discovery measured in terabytes as a tactic to delay the proceeding at the eleventh hour simply for the sake of delay rather than a legitimate threat of prejudice to defendant’s substantial rights.
—
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
The typical Springfield gambit of waiting until the eleventh hour to spring controversial initiatives on the public in order to keep determined opposition from forming backfired spectacularly.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Even though the Bengals' fate is out of their own hands, Chase and Burrow continue to tear up opposing secondaries in the eleventh hour of the season.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Then, at the eleventh hour, a separate agency claimed the patents never should have existed – even though the matter had already been fully tried before the ITC, with live witnesses, fact discovery, and a complete evidentiary record.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for eleventh hour
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
The typical Springfield gambit of waiting until the eleventh hour to spring controversial initiatives on the public in order to keep determined opposition from forming backfired spectacularly.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Even though the Bengals' fate is out of their own hands, Chase and Burrow continue to tear up opposing secondaries in the eleventh hour of the season.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Then, at the eleventh hour, a separate agency claimed the patents never should have existed – even though the matter had already been fully tried before the ITC, with live witnesses, fact discovery, and a complete evidentiary record.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for eleventh hour
Cite this Entry
“Eleventh hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eleventh%20hour. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share