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
Examples of last in a Sentence
Verb (1)
we were lucky that the batteries lasted until we could get to the store to buy more
this heavy drought has lasted all summer Adjective
He was the last one out of the building.
She succeeded on her last attempt.
These are the last two books in the series.
We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
the last cookie in the jar
She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party. Adverb
He spoke last at the meeting.
My horse was last in the race.
She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave.
I last saw him in the supermarket.
They last went to the beach in June.
This word was last used in the 17th century.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Some of her products sold out within hours, even when Markle says her team assumed inventory would last weeks.—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025 As of October 2025, Schleicher is in the consolidation phase of chemotherapy, which lasts nearly three months.—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Outgoing hydrocarbons minister Alejandro Gallardo said last week that the state energy company was struggling to obtain foreign currency for fuel imports.—Reuters 3 Min Ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025 Retro colors and soft fabric are two qualities that are driving shoppers to the label, which saw growth jump around 40% last year.—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Prior to the fundraiser, Grohl and Blum were last seen together in public at the 2025 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in July.—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 Days later, police pulled his body from Buffalo Bayou — part of the city’s 2,500 miles of waterways — and about a mile and a half upstream from where two roommates last saw him alive, according to his cousin, Lauren Freeman.—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
This next tour will be my last.—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025 Grab yours while the sale price lasts.—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for last
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English lǣstan to last, follow; akin to Old English lāst footprint
Adverb
Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt late
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; akin to Old High German leist shoemaker's last, Latin lira furrow — more at learn
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