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Definition of lastnext
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last

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of last
Adjective
Yoon was impeached and removed from office, and special investigations soon began into him, his wife, and his deputies, including his prime minister, who was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026 The Titans signed Saleh to a five-year contract last week to take over a Titans team that is coming off back-to-back 3-14 seasons. Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
While local officials state that impacts from the storm could last for days, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expects air travel to return to normal by midweek. Tevon Blair, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026 Plus, unlike other breezy elixirs of its ilk, this one lasts throughout the day with no need to reapply. Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • But Wood said there is not much to stop agents from rearresting an individual with a final deportation order after that process plays out.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Given one final chance to tie, Mazzulla sent Gonzalez back in as a late sub, and the 19-year-old buried one from the left corner to force a second OT.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • No conclusive plan has been formed to either engage in talks with another professional sports team or repurpose the current site of Arrowhead Stadium – though Lucas and LeVota, respectively, said the city and county could explore both in the next five years.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
  • While there is no conclusive evidence indicating a best time to drink aloe vera gel for digestive health, consuming it at specific times may support different health goals.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • DuPage County prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of 14 years in prison at his sentencing hearing on Monday, but Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh sentenced him to nine years.
    Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • As Sam Stolton reports, the development could — if Google is eventually found to be non-compliant with the rules — pave the way for potential fines as high as 10% of global annual sales, though Brussels regulators seldom levies the maximum penalties.
    Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Both pilots survived the crash.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • To become Florida law, bills need to survive committee hearings, pass votes in the House and Senate and avoid the governor’s veto pen.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, public opinion polling shows support for Alberta independence remains relatively low.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • How to play Over the longer term, Standard Chartered’s Gill said the bank remains bullish on gold and maintains an overweight position relative to a neutral portfolio allocation.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • The decisive opportunity—and the most formidable challenge—resides within the Gordian knot of healthcare operations.
    Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Critics label her authoritarian, while trustees praise her decisive leadership.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Vince Gill, the country star who joined the band after original member Glenn Frey died in 2016, shouldered most of the load caused by Walsh’s absence.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The situation currently is that only a handful of states have enacted new laws regarding AI and mental health, but most states have not yet done so.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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