last

1 of 6

verb (1)

lasted; lasting; lasts

intransitive verb

1
: to continue in time
The movie lasted about two hours.
2
a
: to remain fresh or unimpaired : endure
That paint job should last a long time.
b
: to manage to continue (as in a course of action)
She won't last; she'll quit before the week's out.
c
: to continue to live
he will not last very much longerJames Dennis

transitive verb

1
: to be enough for the needs of
The supplies will last them a week.
2
: to continue in existence or action as long as or longer than
often used with out
couldn't last out the training program

last

2 of 6

adjective

1
a
: following all the rest
He was the last one out.
b
: being the only remaining
our last dollar
2
: belonging to the final stage (as of life)
her last hours on earth
3
a
: next before the present : most recent
last week
His last book was a failure.
b
: most up-to-date : latest
It's the last thing in fashion.
4
a
: farthest from a specified quality, attitude, or likelihood
would be the last person to fall for flattery
b
: lowest in rank or standing
also : worst
5
a
: distinct, separate
used as an intensive
ate every last piece of food
b
: conclusive
There is no last answer to the problem.
c
: highest in degree : supreme, ultimate
lastly adverb

last

3 of 6

adverb

1
: after all others : at the end
came last and left first
2
: most lately
saw her last in Rome
3
: in conclusion
Last, let's consider the social aspect.

last

4 of 6

noun (1)

: something that is last

last

5 of 6

noun (2)

: a form (as of metal or plastic) which is shaped like the human foot and over which a shoe is shaped or repaired

Illustration of last

Illustration of last
  • 5last

last

6 of 6

verb (2)

lasted; lasting; lasts

transitive verb

: to shape with a last
Phrases
at last or at long last
: at the end of a period of time : finally
At last you've come home.
Choose the Right Synonym for last

Verb (1)

continue, last, endure, abide, persist mean to exist over a period of time or indefinitely.

continue applies to a process going on without ending.

the search for peace will continue

last, especially when unqualified, may stress existing beyond what is normal or expected.

buy shoes that will last

endure adds an implication of resisting destructive forces or agencies.

in spite of everything, her faith endured

abide implies stable and constant existing especially as opposed to mutability.

a love that abides through 40 years of marriage

persist suggests outlasting the normal or appointed time and often connotes obstinacy or doggedness.

the sense of guilt persisted

Adjective

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 last in a Sentence

Adjective He was the last one out of the building. She succeeded on her last attempt. These are the last two books in the series. We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer. the last cookie in the jar She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth. He was tragically killed during the last days of the war. I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party. Adverb He spoke last at the meeting. My horse was last in the race. She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave. I last saw him in the supermarket. They last went to the beach in June. This word was last used in the 17th century.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Tape-ins can last four to ten weeks (experts say 12 weeks is the maximum) on natural hair. Tayler Adigun, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024 The trial, scheduled to continue Tuesday, is expected to last about a week. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024 The highest point total in a game that lasted only the regulation 48 minutes came in 1990 when the Phoenix Suns beat the visiting Nuggets, 173-143. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024 The attack lasted an hour and 15 minutes, killing nearly 2,500 US servicemen and citizens, along with injuring more than 1,000 people, according to a National WWII Museum facts report. Kara Nelson, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 According to a post on the sheriff office's Facebook page, Meister left the Tassajara Mountain Zen Center in the Ventana Wilderness at 10:00 a.m. for a hike that should've only lasted a day. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 The first day of a period marks the first day of the menstrual cycle, which lasts about 28 days on average. News & Views, Health, 23 Mar. 2024 Registration is free and the webinar will last an hour. The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024 Erin McDowell, a cookbook author and food stylist, says that for home bakers, a stand mixer is a worthy investment that could last your whole life. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The armorer on the film, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was convicted last week of involuntary manslaughter for loading the live round into Baldwin’s gun. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 The request for information sent to X this week is connected to an ongoing investigation into Elon Musk’s social media company that began amid the opening days of the Israel-Hamas conflict last year, officials said. Brian Fung, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 That discovery last week started a panicked, three-day crash effort by more than 200 of the department’s employees, including Richard Cordray, the nation’s top student aid official, to read through each of the emails one by one and extract crucial identifying information required for financial aid. Zach Montague, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.74% from 6.88% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Alex Veiga, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 Its Wildside division delivered Italian box office champion There’s Still Tomorrow, the most commercially successful film in Italy last year. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Early last year, Zipp joined the litigation department of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek in San Diego. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Ayesha Curry Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 4 with Husband Steph Curry: 'Somebody Was Missing' Ayesha, who is already mom to daughters Riley and Ryan, as well as son Canon with Steph, also noted that this pregnancy will be her last. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 Indeed, Burrell wasn’t the only one with other plans last Saturday, Ferguson recalled, revealing that multiple castmembers had other things to do but canceled those plans for the SAG Awards appearance. Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Princess Kate, who is recovering from planned abdominal surgery, was last seen briefly on Monday when she was pictured in a car leaving Windsor with Prince William. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt underneath a black jacket with black pants and black sandals. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2024 Police said Karma was last seen on Wednesday at about 1:15 p.m. in the area of the 2600 block of North 54th Street. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 The man was last seen heading east on Lisbon Street. Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 He was last seen in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Owens and Hawley were last seen on Feb. 19, 1976 at a farm auction near the county line separating Winnebago from neighboring Ogle County. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024 Police searched the area, including a riverbank near where he was last seen on video, with a helicopter and by ground Monday. Melissa Alonso, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 His white whale is a patent model of one of the earliest proto-typewriters, last seen in the nineteen-forties. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
Noun
The 52-year-old last played in the NHL in 2018, but still plays in his home country. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 Related The new spot picks up where Dunkin’ last left off, with aspiring pop star Ben Affleck continuing on his path to music greatness. Anna Chan, Billboard, 8 Feb. 2024 What to Consider The big 103 last may actually be too roomy and comfy for those with narrow or small-volume feet. Douglas Schnitzspahn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2023 How long a cold lasts depends on the person and the symptoms. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2023 Most importantly, while the Black Friday sale lasts, the iWoly vacuum is only $80. Carly Totten, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023 But the longer the dynamic lasts, the greater Israel’s conundrum. Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023 Using a mobile smartphone or an app was not feasible when Brood X last emerged in 2004, but both technologies heavily documented the 2021 emergence. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023 Women’s lasts typically range from 98 to 103 — lasts under 100 millimeters are considered narrow, and anything around 101 to 103 will be better for higher volume feet and all-day comfort. Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'last.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English lǣstan to last, follow; akin to Old English lāst footprint

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt late

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; akin to Old High German leist shoemaker's last, Latin lira furrow — more at learn

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near last

Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

last

1 of 6 verb
1
: to continue in being or operation
lasted three hours
2
: to be enough for the needs of
supplies to last a week

last

2 of 6 noun
: a form which is shaped like the human foot and on which a shoe is shaped or repaired

last

3 of 6 verb
: to shape with a last

last

4 of 6 adjective
1
a
: following all the rest in time, place, or rank
last one out
b
: being the only remaining
last dollar
2
: belonging to the final stage
3
: next before the present : latest
last week
4
: least likely
the last thing we'd want

last

5 of 6 adverb
1
: at the end
ran last
2
: most lately
saw them last at school
3
: in conclusion
and last, I'd like to talk about success

last

6 of 6 noun
: something that is last
Etymology

Verb

Old English læstan "to last, follow"

Noun

Old English lǣste

Adjective

Old English latost "latest," from læt "late" — related to late entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on last

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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