last-ditch

1 of 2

adjective

1
: fought or conducted from the last ditch : waged with desperation or unyielding defiance
put up a last-ditch resistance
2
: made as a final effort especially to avert disaster
a last-ditch attempt to raise the money

last ditch

2 of 2

noun

: a place of final defense or resort

Examples of last-ditch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
When Alejandro Balde pushes up from left-back, Girona have a three-on-three situation, which ends in a last-ditch Kounde block in the penalty area. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Witness testimony at Langworthy’s preliminary hearing in June established that Kabasele made a last-ditch effort to warn her mother to leave with the kids, perhaps sensing that violence was imminent. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
On Monday, the New Jersey Supreme Court denied NCPG’s request for an emergency stay, a last ditch effort to keep the number from reverting to the local council. Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025 In a last ditch effort, the determined rescuers brought in an excavator and devised a plan that would save the animal’s life. Ronnie Li, USA Today, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for last-ditch

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last-ditch was in 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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