ul·ti·mate
ˈəl-tə-mət 
1
a
: last in a progression or series : final
their ultimate destination was Paris
b
: eventual sense 2
they hoped for ultimate success
c
: the best or most extreme of its kind : utmost
the ultimate sacrifice
d
: most remote in space or time : farthest
2
: arrived at as the last result
the ultimate question
3
a
: original sense 1
the ultimate source
b
: basic, fundamental
the ultimate nature of things—
A. N. Whitehead
A. N. Whitehead
c
: incapable of further analysis, division, or separation
ultimateness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of ultimate in a Sentence
Adjective
Their ultimate fate has not yet been decided.
Our ultimate aim is to increase production.
Recent Examples on the WebThe Editors, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Joseph is studying for his Master’s degree in mass communications, and his ultimate goal is noteworthy.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
After Lee’s death, the film carries on until the ultimate denouement of the president being gunned down by rebellion soldiers.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 13 Apr. 2024
Exploitative to the planet and the women who have starved themselves to fit into its childlike clothes, Brandy Melville is positioned as the ultimate fast-fashion empire.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
His ultimate acquittal, bound by a pair of bloody gloves believed to have been worn by the killer, was highly divisive.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
And here’s the ultimate truth about Garcia: Ruby’s love for plants and traveling came nothing close to her affectionate smile that illuminated the room or contagious laughter.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Carillo uses a combination of facial cupping, acupressure, and lymphatic drainage to get the ultimate facial contour and posture correction.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 11 Apr. 2024
First, national security has been concentrated in the hands of the the supreme leader ever since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, meaning the ayatollah has ultimate say in Iran’s strategy and outlook.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Patricia Tortolani, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024
His ultimate is jumping in the air and dropping bombs on people.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
And to me the Supreme Court was sort of the ultimate.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024
Heroes have defensive and offensive capabilities, as well as a powerful ultimate.
—Kris Holt, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Certain hairstyles are forever defined by their primary source—and Princess Leia hair is among the ultimate of examples.
—Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2023
For Lenox, the ultimate of aesthetic and career goals is to keep producing and arranging for other artists while making his own solo records, pop and beyond.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 10 May 2023
That's the ultimate.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2023
That’s the ultimate.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2023
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2023
This epic Civil Rights biopic covers the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, which ultimate leads to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
—Chaise Sanders, Country Living, 5 Feb. 2023
Provocative and poignant, Get Out uses discomfort to ultimate cinematic effect — especially through the chilling performances by Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford — and makes viewers squirm in their seats in the process.
—Leigh Hewett, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
From the moment Audi introduced its Quattro all-wheel-drive system in the ‘80s, ultimate all-wheel performance and handling became synonymous with the four-ringed badge.
—Bryan Campbell, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022
For keen Christo fans and collectors, Sotheby’s Paris is presenting The Final Christo (until 3 October), an exhibition of 25 works telling the story of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, from early dream to to ultimate realisation six decades later.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
At the beginning of Harbaugh’s tenure as Ravens coach, the Pittsburgh Steelers barred the door to ultimate success.
—Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, 18 Sep. 2021
As a player, Jared Goff and Peyton Manning are counting on me to do my job, which ultimate leads to helping the team.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2021
Member of the 1970s all-decade team, Stabler was the 1974 NFL MVP and led the Raiders to ultimate glory in Super Bowl XI.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2020
Adjective
The ultimate deal funneled tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief to Iran and allowed the regime to become a greater conventional threat, all while preserving its nuclear ambitions in the long term.
—The Editors, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Joseph is studying for his Master’s degree in mass communications, and his ultimate goal is noteworthy.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
After Lee’s death, the film carries on until the ultimate denouement of the president being gunned down by rebellion soldiers.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 13 Apr. 2024
Exploitative to the planet and the women who have starved themselves to fit into its childlike clothes, Brandy Melville is positioned as the ultimate fast-fashion empire.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
His ultimate acquittal, bound by a pair of bloody gloves believed to have been worn by the killer, was highly divisive.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
And here’s the ultimate truth about Garcia: Ruby’s love for plants and traveling came nothing close to her affectionate smile that illuminated the room or contagious laughter.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Carillo uses a combination of facial cupping, acupressure, and lymphatic drainage to get the ultimate facial contour and posture correction.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 11 Apr. 2024
First, national security has been concentrated in the hands of the the supreme leader ever since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, meaning the ayatollah has ultimate say in Iran’s strategy and outlook.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
As this ultimate of skin-tightening procedures — and the patient demographic getting them — evolves, Allure is exploring the phenomenon of the modern facelift in our new series, Want a Lift?
—Patricia Tortolani, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024
His ultimate is jumping in the air and dropping bombs on people.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
And to me the Supreme Court was sort of the ultimate.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024
Heroes have defensive and offensive capabilities, as well as a powerful ultimate.
—Kris Holt, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Certain hairstyles are forever defined by their primary source—and Princess Leia hair is among the ultimate of examples.
—Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2023
For Lenox, the ultimate of aesthetic and career goals is to keep producing and arranging for other artists while making his own solo records, pop and beyond.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 10 May 2023
That's the ultimate.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2023
That’s the ultimate.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2023
Verb
Medterra Prepare on a life-changing journey to ultimate well-being with Medterra's CBD oil, which has been meticulously crafted through whole-plant extraction.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2023
This epic Civil Rights biopic covers the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, which ultimate leads to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
—Chaise Sanders, Country Living, 5 Feb. 2023
Provocative and poignant, Get Out uses discomfort to ultimate cinematic effect — especially through the chilling performances by Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford — and makes viewers squirm in their seats in the process.
—Leigh Hewett, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
From the moment Audi introduced its Quattro all-wheel-drive system in the ‘80s, ultimate all-wheel performance and handling became synonymous with the four-ringed badge.
—Bryan Campbell, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022
For keen Christo fans and collectors, Sotheby’s Paris is presenting The Final Christo (until 3 October), an exhibition of 25 works telling the story of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, from early dream to to ultimate realisation six decades later.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
At the beginning of Harbaugh’s tenure as Ravens coach, the Pittsburgh Steelers barred the door to ultimate success.
—Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, 18 Sep. 2021
As a player, Jared Goff and Peyton Manning are counting on me to do my job, which ultimate leads to helping the team.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2021
Member of the 1970s all-decade team, Stabler was the 1974 NFL MVP and led the Raiders to ultimate glory in Super Bowl XI.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ultimate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ultimate
Cite this Entry
“Ultimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultimate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ultimate
1 of 2 adjective
ul·ti·mate
ˈəl-tə-mət
1
a
: farthest entry 1
the ultimate reaches of the universe
b
: last in a progression : final
c
: extreme entry 1 sense 1
the ultimate sacrifice
2
: arrived at as the last result
the ultimate damage of the hurricane
3
a
: basic entry 1 sense 1
ultimate control
b
: incapable of further division or separation : elemental
ultimate particles
4
: being the greatest : maximum
the ultimate speed of an airplane
ultimate
noun
ultimately
adverb
ultimate
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
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