ultimate

1 of 3

adjective

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

c

: incapable of further analysis, division, or separation

ultimateness noun

ultimate

2 of 3

noun

1

: something ultimate

especially : fundamental

2

: acme

3

Ultimate : ultimate frisbee

ultimate

3 of 3

verb

ul·​ti·​mate ˈəl-tə-mət  -ˌmāt 

ultimated; ultimating

: end

Synonyms of ultimate

Adjective

• maximum
• utmost
• most

Choose the Right Synonym for ultimate

last, final, terminal, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance).

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 ultimate in a Sentence

Adjective

Their ultimate fate has not yet been decided.

Our ultimate aim is to increase production.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Explore the deals below and get ready to host the ultimate holiday gathering. — Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Thanks to a low heel and sleek design, this summer sandal trend is the ultimate hack to effortlessly dressing up any outfit. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Noun

The ultimate is an off-the-grid, island-hopping kayak camping trip. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

His humor suggests that the only way to face the ultimate is to be as alive as possible. — Nicholas Fox Weber, Air Mail, 21 Mar. 2026

Verb

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

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin ultimatus last, final, from Late Latin, past participle of ultimare to come to an end, be last, from Latin ultimus farthest, last, final, superlative of Latin *ulter situated beyond

First Known Use

Adjective

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1d

Noun

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1834, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ultimate

• made the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• make the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• the ultimate in
• ultimate Frisbee

Rhymes for ultimate

• penultimate

Kids 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 noun

: ultimate frisbee