Definition of 'last'

Word Frequency

last

(lɑːst , læst)

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense lasts , present participle lasting , past tense, past participle lasted

1. determiner

You use last in expressions such as last Friday, last night, and last year to refer, for example, to the most recent Friday, night, or year.

I got married last July.

He never made it home at all last night.

It is not surprising they did so badly in last year's elections.

2. adjective

The last event, person, thing, or period of time is the most recent one.

Much has changed since my last visit.

At the last count inflation was 10.9 per cent.

I split up with my last boyfriend three years ago.

The last few weeks have been hectic.

Synonyms: most recent, latest, previous More Synonyms of last

Last is also a pronoun.

The next tide, it was announced, would be even higher than the last.

3. adverb [ADVERB with verb]

If something last happened on a particular occasion, that is the most recent occasion on which it happened.

When were you there last?

The house is a little more dilapidated than when I last saw it.

Hunting on the trust's 625,000 acres was last debated two years ago.

4. ordinal number

The last thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes after all the others of the same kind.

This is his last chance as prime minister.

...the last three pages of the chapter.

She said it was the very last house on the road.

They didn't come last in their league.

Last is also a pronoun.

I'm not the first employee she has done this to and I probably won't be the last.

The trickiest bits are the last on the list.

5. adverb [ADVERB after verb]

If you do something last, you do it after everyone else does, or after you do everything else.

I testified last.

I was always picked last for the football team at school.

The foreground, nearest the viewer, is painted last.

Synonyms: in or at the end, after, behind, in the rear More Synonyms of last

6. pronoun

If you are the last to do or know something, everyone else does or knows it before you.

She was the last to go to bed. [+ to-infinitive]

Riccardo and I are always the last to know what's going on. [+ to-infinitive]

7. adjective

Last is used to refer to the only thing, person, or part of something that remains.

Jed nodded, finishing off the last piece of pizza.

...the freeing of the last hostage.

Last is also a noun.

He finished off the last of the coffee. [+ of]

The last of the ten inmates gave themselves up after twenty eight hours. [+ of]

8. adjective

You use last before numbers to refer to a position that someone has reached in a competition after other competitors have been knocked out.

He reached the last four at Wimbledon.

...the only woman among the authors making it through to the last six.

9. adjective

You can use last to indicate that something is extremely undesirable or unlikely.

[emphasis]

The last thing I wanted to do was teach.

He would be the last person who would do such a thing.

Synonyms: least likely, most unlikely, most unsuitable, least suitable More Synonyms of last

Last is also a pronoun.

I would be the last to say that science has explained everything.

10. pronoun

The last you see of someone or the last you hear of them is the final time that you see them or talk to them.

She disappeared shouting, 'To the river, to the river!' And that was the last we saw of her.

I had a feeling it would be the last I heard of him.

11. verb

If an event, situation, or problem lasts for a particular length of time, it continues to exist or happen for that length of time.

The marriage had lasted for less than two years. [VERB + for]

The games lasted only half the normal time. [VERB noun]

Enjoy it because it won't last. [VERB]

[Also V adv]

12. verb

If something lasts for a particular length of time, it continues to be able to be used for that time, for example because there is some of it left or because it is in good enough condition.

You only need a very small blob of glue, so one tube lasts for ages. [VERB + for]

The repaired sail lasted less than 24 hours. [VERB noun]

The implication is that this battery lasts twice as long as other batteries. [VERB adverb]

If you build more plastics into cars, the car lasts longer. [VERB adverb]

[Also VERB]

Synonyms: continue, keep, remain, survive More Synonyms of last

13. verb

You can use last in expressions such as last the game, last the course, and last the week, to indicate that someone manages to take part in an event or situation right to the end, especially when this is very difficult for them.

They wouldn't have lasted the full game. [VERB noun]

I almost lasted the two weeks. I only had a couple of days to do. [VERB noun]

To last out means the same as to last.

It'll be a miracle if the band lasts out the tour. [VERB PARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]

A breakfast will be served to those who last out till dawn! [VERB PARTICLE]

14. See also lasting

15.

See at last

16.

See the sb/sth before last

17.

See breathe one's last

18.

See last but one/last but three etc

19.

See every last

20.

See last in, first out

21.

See the last sb heard

22.

See leave sth until last

23.

See see the last of sb

24.

See to the last

25.

See to the last

26.

See to the last detail/to the last man

27. last breath

28. to have the last laugh

29. last minute

30. someone's last stand

31. the last straw

32. last thing

Phrasal verbs:

See last out

More Synonyms of last

Video: pronunciation of
last

last in British English 1

(lɑːst )

adjective (often prenominal)

being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others

the last horse in the race

being or occurring just before the present; most recent

last Thursday

3. See last but not least

4. See last but one

only remaining

one's last cigarette

most extreme; utmost

least suitable, appropriate, or likely

he was the last person I would have chosen

8. (esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)

final or ultimate

last rites

(capital)

the Last Judgment

9. (postpositive) Liverpool dialect

inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible

this ale is last

adverb

10.

after all others; at or in the end

he came last

11.

most recently

he was last seen in the mountains

(in combination)

last-mentioned

12. (sentence modifier)

as the last or latest item

noun

13. See the last

14.

one's last moments before death

15.

the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last)

16.

the final appearance, mention, or occurrence

we've seen the last of him

17. See at last

18. See at long last

▶ USAGE Since last can mean either after all others or most recent, it is better to avoid using this word where ambiguity might arise as in her last novel. Final or latest should be used in such contexts to avoid ambiguity

Word origin

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

Word Frequency

last in British English 2

(lɑːst )

verb

1. (when intr, often foll by for)

to remain in being (for a length of time); continue

his hatred lasted for several years

to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time)

it will last us until Friday

3. (when intr, often foll by for)

to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration)

he lasted for three hours underground

Derived forms

laster (ˈlaster)

noun

Word origin

Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

Word Frequency

last in British English 3

(lɑːst )

noun

the wooden or metal form on which a shoe or boot is fashioned or repaired

verb

2. (transitive)

to fit (a shoe or boot) on a last

Derived forms

laster (ˈlaster)

noun

Word origin

Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists

Word Frequency

last in British English 4

(lɑːst )

noun

a unit of weight or capacity having various values in different places and for different commodities. Commonly used values are 2 tons, 2000 pounds, 80 bushels, or 640 gallons

Word origin

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade1

Word Frequency

last in American English 1

(læst ; lɑst )

adjective

1. alt. superl. of

late

being or coming after all others in place; farthest from the first; hindmost

coming after all others in time; farthest from the beginning; latest

only remaining

took the last chocolate in the box

directly before the present

last month

farthest from what is expected; least likely

would be the last person to suspect anything

utmost; greatest

coming after all others in importance; lowest in rank

newest

the last thing in hats

10.

conclusive; authoritative

the last word in scientific research

11.

individual

used as an intensive

to spend every last cent

adverb

12. alt. superl. of

late

13.

after all others; at the end

14.

most recently

15.

finally; in conclusion

noun

16.

someone or something which comes last

the last of the kings

17.

the final or concluding part; end

friends to the last

Idioms:

at (long) last

see the last of

Word origin

ME laste, earlier latest, latst < OE latost, superl. of adj. læt, adv. late: see late

Word Frequency

last in American English 2

(læst ; lɑst )

verb intransitive

to remain in existence or operation; continue; go on; endure

to remain in good condition; wear well

to continue unconsumed, unspent, etc.

enough food to last for a month

verb transitive

to continue or endure throughout

often with out

doubtful whether he can last (out) the training period

SIMILAR WORDS: conˈtinue

Derived forms

laster (ˈlaster)

noun

Word origin

ME lasten < OE læstan, akin to Ger leisten, vt., to perform, carry out, Goth laistjan, lit., to follow in the track of < IE base *leis-, a track, spoor > L lira, furrow (see learn): sense development: to follow — to go on, continue

Word Frequency

last in American English 3

(læst ; lɑst )

noun

a block or form shaped like a person's foot, on which shoes are made or repaired

verb transitive

to form with a last

Idioms:

stick to one's last

Derived forms

laster (ˈlaster)

noun

Word origin

ME laste < OE læst, a boot, læste, shoemaker's last < base of last, footstep, track, furrow < same base as last2

Examples of 'last' in a sentence
last

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

Their marriage had lasted less than a year.We should have had one last week.She disappeared a couple of hours after she was last seen alive.When we played there last year we had opportunities.The last four home games we had two wins and two draws.Yet for him this may be his last chance of affection.In its simplest form this may just be by finding a play to use the last of your letters.They moved to a house in Ealing last spring.If design was dead last week, is this the revival?Once again last night, they were unconvincing.