last
lahst
Last (adj) means coming after all others; final. Example: “This is the last chapter of the book.”
adj
1
Coming after all others; final.
"This is the last chapter of the book."
"She was the last person to leave the office."
"He ate the last biscuit and left the empty tin on the table."
2
Most recent.
"I saw him last Tuesday."
"Did you enjoy the last film you watched at the cinema?"
"The last time we met, you were still at school."
det
1
The one immediately before the present, referring to a unit of time.
"Last week was exhausting."
"We went camping last summer and loved every minute of it."
"Last night's storm kept the whole street awake until morning."
verb
1
To continue existing or happening over a period of time.
"The meeting lasted three hours."
"Good shoes should last for years."
"The warm weather lasted all through the weekend, much to everyone's delight."
noun
1
A foot-shaped block used by shoemakers to shape or repair footwear.
"The cobbler stretched the boot over the last."
"He fitted the new leather onto a wooden last before sewing it."
"A shoemaker keeps a different last for every size and style of shoe."
How to use last
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFinal, most recent, or (as a verb) to keep going for a stretch of time.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the shoemaker's "last" (a shaping tool) with the everyday meaning of "final" — they're unrelated senses that happen to share a spelling.
Common pairings
last but not least
last night
last a lifetime
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Word forms
- Plural
- lasts, lasten
- Third person singular
- lasts
- Past tense
- lasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
This is the _____ chapter of the book.
Etymology
From Old English latost, the superlative form of "late" — so "last" originally meant "latest".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for last
See all rhymes for last →Frequently asked questions
What does “last” mean?
The word “last” means coming after all others; final. In plain terms, final, most recent, or (as a verb) to keep going for a stretch of time.
How do you pronounce “last”?
“Last” is pronounced lahst (/læst/ in IPA).
How do you use “last” in a sentence?
Here is “last” used in a sentence: “This is the last chapter of the book.”
What is another word for “last”?
Words with a similar meaning to “last” include lastly, continue, endure and survive.
What is the opposite of “last”?
The opposite of “last” — its antonyms — are disintegrate, dissipate, fall apart and wear out.
What part of speech is “last”?
Depending on how it is used, “last” can be an adjective, a det, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “last” come from?
The word “last” comes from Old English. From Old English latost, the superlative form of "late" — so "last" originally meant "latest".
Is “last” a common word?
“Last” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between last and latest?
'Last' means final, with nothing coming after it, so 'the last episode of the series' implies the show has ended. 'Latest' means most recent, with more possibly to come, so 'the latest episode' suggests further episodes may follow. Mixing them up can completely change whether something is finished or ongoing.
What is the difference between last and final?
The two are close and often interchangeable. 'Last' simply marks the position at the end of a series, as in 'the last person in line.' 'Final' stresses that something conclusively ends the matter, with a sense of decision, as in 'the final answer.' All final items are last, but 'final' adds a note of conclusiveness.
What is the opposite of last?
In the sense of final, the opposite is 'first,' meaning coming before all others, like the first and last chapters of a book. When 'last' means most recent or previous, as in 'last week,' the natural contrast is 'next,' as in 'next week.' Context decides which opposite fits.
What is an example of 'last' meaning final?
'December is the last month of the year' places it after all the others. 'He crossed the finish line last' means behind everyone else. 'This is your last chance' means no more will follow. Note that 'last night' instead means the most recent, not the final, night.
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