last minute
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for last minute, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Done, arranged or decided at the latest possible time before something happens, usually in a hurry.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use last minute
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and very common. Written with a hyphen before a noun (a last-minute decision) and without one after a verb (she decided at the last minute).
Etymology
A literal compound of last and minute, used figuratively for the final moments before a deadline.
Full origin of last minute →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between "at the last minute" and "in the last minute"?
At the last minute means just before a deadline, with no time to spare: she cancelled at the last minute. In the last minute refers to an actual sixty-second stretch, usually the final one of a match or countdown: they equalised in the last minute. Only the first is idiomatic for general lateness.
Is "last minute" hyphenated?
Hyphenate it when it sits directly before the noun it describes: a last-minute booking. Leave the hyphen out when it works as a noun phrase after a verb or preposition: we booked at the last minute.
Does last-minute always mean badly organised?
No. It describes timing rather than quality, and in travel and retail it often signals a bargain, as in last-minute deals. It only implies poor planning when the context suggests the delay was avoidable.