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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
Coach Michael Locksley did not talk to the media and therefore did not veer away from last week’s comments that the starting quarterback’s identity would not be revealed publicly until the game against Florida Atlantic. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2025 Hatch, who was recently up with the Royals last week, was claimed by the Minnesota Twins. Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Construction will last until 2041, perhaps far longer. Stacy Torres, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2025 Again, there are parts of this phase that aren’t going to last forever. R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • The final system is likely to use a Stirling engine to convert fission heat into electricity and feature meltdown-proof liquid sodium circulation.
    Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Osbourne’s funeral cortege paraded past the Black Sabbath Bridge during his July 30 funeral in Birmingham, just weeks after Ozzy’s final performance at the all-star Back to the Beginning charity concert.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But to date, there is no conclusive evidence that RL endows LLMs with reasoning capabilities that generalize beyond easily verifiable domains like math and coding.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Typically, dermatologists aren’t huge fans of using supplements to boost collagen stores, because there’s no conclusive evidence to show that collagen peptides actually make their way to the skin.
    Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The part of the celebrations that most interests my home entertainment channel, though, is the launch on October 7 of the film’s new 4K Blu-ray edition.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • For most people, that means first thing in the morning.
    Patricia Weiser, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This mindset positions enterprises not only to survive technological disruptions but also to lead confidently through ongoing evolution.
    Holger Reisinger, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Gamers will be able to play as a Vault Hunter on a mission to kill the alien Vaults in Borderlands 4 or complete puzzles and confront monsters to survive Silent Hill f.
    Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Kenwood’s program will remain the same, but Western’s will change to a Building Construction Management magnet, which will expose students to different areas of construction trades, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing and carpentry.
    Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The love remained even as Alonso tested free agency for the first time last winter.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
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 other decisive event was more prosaic: activists from a joint Jewish-Palestinian initiative called Standing Together staged a protest outside the studios of Channels 12 and 13.
    Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
  • With broad disapproval of policies on the economy, immigration, and living costs, Democrats may see a possible opening, but have yet to translate this into a decisive lead as the party regroups after the 2024 election loss.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In those moments, cooler heads don’t always prevail.
    JoAnn Yamani, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Though Activision Blizzard declined to voluntarily recognize the group, union organizers ultimately prevailed in a National Labor Relations Board election later that year.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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