first and last

idiom

: at the most basic level : in all respects
This is first and last a matter of national security.

Examples of first and last in a Sentence

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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.
So there’s a practical element to directing first and last, which is what [Rian and I] did this year. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025 However, the story dates back to Johnson’s great grandmother, who was the first and last person in the family to own a home. Rachel Flynn, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Please include your real name—at least first and last—and hometown. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025 The need to channel that fluid process shaped the building: The architects were careful to minimize chaos and menace, calculate the trajectory from choir room to lab, provide a place to stow music stands, and design those instrument cubbies as the first and last stop of the day. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for first and last

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Cite this Entry

“First and last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20and%20last. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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