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Definition of lastnext
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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
This comes after Arison was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class last year. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026 Between the earliest enrollment in 2004 and last year, about 478 had developed cognitive impairment. ABC News, 15 July 2026
Verb
When water or food with feces on it, such as fresh produce, is ingested, symptoms last roughly a week or up to a month. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 Meledandri and Bled subsequently turned the Franco-American collaboration into a lasting partnership by establishing Illumination Studios Paris, where 16 feature films and 40 shorts have since been created. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • Young spent most of last season on a two-way deal with the Heat before being converted to a standard contract in the final days of the season.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Heather Leo’s future also arrived unexpectedly during the final days of the Games.
    Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • There’s no conclusive answer, and that’s something McElwee will have to live with.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • Although rescuers had not detected conclusive signs of life, the operation continued under the watch of the child’s parents and grandmother.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The storm had maximum sustained winds over 180 mph, with winds expected to exceed 150 mph on Rota, according to the National Weather Service.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • The search lasted until Monday, when Núñez returned to the disaster site convinced that her son had not survived and that his body was still beneath the rubble.
    Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The victim, who Cofield considered a romantic rival, survived the 2018 drive-by shooting but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
    Danny Robbins, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Still, the pieces of ceiling trim dedicated to the pillars of courage and trust remained missing, a nod perhaps to the traits most easily lost when disaster strikes – and most needed to rebuild.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • There’s enough cash on hand for Rhaenyra to administer the Seven Kingdoms for a fortnight, and no one remaining from the old regime — not Alicent, not Orwyle — knows where Lannister hid the rest of the ingots.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 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 American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.
    Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • However, Korotaev leans on the side of doubting any decisive impact from Fedorov.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026
  • The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Mestemaker was a fearless, decisive thrower last year in North Texas’ Air Raid system.
    Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Adjective
  • There’s a bunch of new things across most of the 2026 range, mainly cosmetic, but also hardware and weight-saving stuff as well.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • The first person most people meet at Georgia Works is Adolphus Chandler.
    Lisa Lacy, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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