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last1

Syllabification: (last)
Pronunciation: /last/

Translate last | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of last

adjective

[attributive]
  • 1coming after all others in time or order; final:they caught the last bus
  • met with or encountered after any others:the last house in the village
  • the lowest in importance or rank:finishing in last place [as complement]:he came last in the race
  • (the last) the least likely or suitable:addicts are often the last people to face up to their problems the last thing she needed was a husband
  • 2most recent in time; latest:last year [postpositive]:your letter of Sunday last
  • immediately preceding in order; previous in a sequence or enumeration:their last album this last point is critical
  • 3only remaining:it’s our last hope

adverb

  • 1on the last occasion before the present; previously:he looked much older than when I’d last seen him
  • 2 [in combination] after all others in order or sequence:the two last-mentioned classes
  • 3(especially in enumerating points) finally; in conclusion:and last, I’d like to thank you all for coming

noun (plural same)

  • the last person or thing; the one occurring, mentioned, or acting after all others:the last of their guests had gone eating as if every mouthful were his last
  • (the last of) the only part of something that remains:they drank the last of the wine
  • [in singular] last position in a race, contest, or ranking:he came from last in a slowly run race
  • (the last) the end or last moment, especially death:she did love me to the last
  • (the last) the last mention or sight of someone or something:that was the last we saw of her

Phrases

at last

(or at long last)
after much delay:you’ve come back to me at last!

as a last resort

see last resort.

—— one's last

do something for the last time:the dying embers sparked their last

last but not least

last in order of mention or occurrence but just as important.

last call

(in a bar) an expression used to inform customers that closing time is approaching and that any further drinks should be purchased immediately:the hours were 11:00 last call and drink up by 11:15

one's (or the) last gasp

see gasp.

the last straw

see straw.

on one's last legs

see leg.

Origin:

Old English latost (adverb) 'after all others in a series,' of Germanic origin; related to Dutch laatst, lest and German letzt, also to late

last in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of last in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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