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Meaning & use

last

adjective, verb, adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/lɑːst/
US/læst/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Coming at the end, after all others in order or time.

    Grammar: Often with the: the last bus; also after be: she was last.

    Patterns

    • the last one
    • last in line

    She was the last person to leave the office.

    This is the last page of the report.

    The last bus leaves at midnight.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Most recent, just before now.

    Grammar: Used with time words without the: last week, last year.

    Patterns

    • last week
    • last night

    We visited Rome last summer.

    I saw him last Tuesday.

    Last month the shop raised its prices.

  3. verbintransitive

    To continue for a period of time, or to stay in good condition.

    Grammar: No object, often with a time: it lasted an hour.

    Patterns

    • last for a period
    • last until something

    The concert lasted three hours.

    These boots will last for years.

    The fresh bread didn't last past the weekend.

  4. adverbnot comparable

    After all others, or most recently.

    Grammar: Comes after the verb or before it: she arrived last.

    Patterns

    • arrive last
    • last but not least

    He finished last in the race.

    When did you last see her?

    She spoke last at the meeting.

Word forms

third person singularlasts
past tenselasted
past participlelasted
-ing formlasting

Common combinations

last but not least
Last but not least, I want to thank my family.
last minute
We booked the trip at the last minute.
last for ages
A good coat should last for years.
at long last
At long last, the bridge reopened.
the last straw
The late fee was the last straw.
last chance
This is your last chance to apply.

Synonyms and how they differ

final
Final suggests the end of a planned series, while last may simply be the one before now.
latest
Latest means most recent but not necessarily the end, unlike last, which can mean no more will come.
endure
Endure is a more formal verb for lasting, often through hardship.
continue
Continue means go on, while last stresses how long something goes on.

Opposites

firstinitialbegin

Word family

lasting adjective
continuing for a long time
lastly adverb
in the last place, used to introduce a final point
latest adjective
most recent
late adjective
after the expected time; last is a form of late

Commonly confused: last or latest? last or past?

last vs latest

Latest means the most recent so far, while last means the final one or the one just before now.

last vs past

Past means before now in general, while last points to the nearest or final one.

Practice

The battery should ____ for about ten hours.

Make it your own

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