Meaning & use
at long last
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Finally, after a long delay or period of waiting, often showing relief or impatience.
Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase, typically at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Patterns
- at long last, ...
- ... at long last
At long last, the train arrived, two hours late.
She finished her thesis at long last and celebrated with friends.
The package came at long last, after weeks of waiting.
Common combinations
- arrive at long last
- The guests arrived at long last, just as dinner was served.
- at long last, something happens
- At long last, the rain stopped and we could go outside.
- finish at long last
- He finished the marathon at long last, exhausted but happy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- finally
- A neutral word for something happening after a delay; 'at long last' adds a stronger feeling of relief or impatience.
- eventually
- Suggests something happens after a long time, but without the emotional emphasis of 'at long last'.
Commonly confused: at long last or at last?
at long last vs at last
A shorter version that means the same but is less emphatic; 'at long last' stresses the length of the wait.
Practice
Choose the best completion: 'The bus arrived ____, after we had waited for an hour.'
Choose one answer.
'At long last' fits because it shows relief after a long wait. The other phrases have different meanings: 'at first' means initially, 'at once' means immediately, and 'at least' means not less than.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “at long last”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.