last-ditch

1 of 2

adjective

ˈlas(t)-ˌdich 

-ˈdich

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

Adjective

He was blocked from racing by the IOC and the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation on Thursday after the slider and his father emerged from a last-minute, last-ditch meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry — who was unable to get Heraskevych to change his mind. —Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Dodani will play Vik, a coder with a comic sensibility who seeks out Michael and Olivia for representation in a last-ditch effort when his own tech-employer turns against him. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026

Noun

So Ellison texted Zaslav in what now reads as a last ditch effort to get a deal over the line. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025

Forget the flimsy strips of aluminum around the edges of the pie as a last ditch effort. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above