last1
/lɑːst
/adjective [attributive]
1Coming after all others in time or order; final: they caught the last bus...
- After the last supper on the final night, the team set off from the camp at midnight.
- Sure enough, when we arrived at the bus station it turned out that the last bus had already left.
- Ironically, the teams are due to met again just six days after the final for the last league match of the season.
Synonyms
rearmost, rear, hindmost, bringing up the rear, nearest the rear, at the end, furthest back, at the back (of the queue), aftermost, endmost, furthest behind, final, ultimate, most remote, remotest, furthest, utmost, extreme
closing, concluding, final, ending, end, finishing, ultimate, terminal, terminating;
valedictory;
later, latter
1.1Met with or encountered after any others: the last house in the village...
- This was happening in the bus shelter and the nearby road of my bus stop, the last bus stop on the route.
1.2The lowest in importance or rank: finishing in last place [as complement]: he came last in the race...
- Not sure if we came last overall, I think we won some crayons though so it wasn't all bad.
- A muddled Mr North came last, answering only five correct questions in the allotted time.
- That he came last with only 9 percent is a great victory in the battle against fascism.
1.3 (the last) The least likely or suitable: he’s the last person I’d turn to for help the last thing she needed was a husband...
- If this EP is her idea of a career move, the last place it seems likely to take her is the land of fame and fortune.
- If a site is named after a marine creature, that is usually the last creature you're likely to see.
- It was the last myth that anyone needed, least of all those who loathe the notion of intractability.
Synonyms
least likely, most unlikely, most improbable, most reluctant;
least suitable, most unsuitable, most inappropriate, least appropriate, least wanted, least favourite
2Most recent in time; latest: last year [postpositive]: your letter of Sunday last...
- The RMT has already had six days of strikes, the most recent of them last Friday and Saturday.
- This is what appears to have happened with the most recent Games, staged last year in Athens.
- They are not the result of lack of care this year, last year or indeed recent years.
Synonyms
previous, preceding;
latest, most recent;
prior, former
2.1Immediately preceding in order; previous in a sequence or enumeration: their last album this last point is critical...
- We tried and failed but, if we leave anything, judge us by that last album.
- He warns the technicians on the other side of the studio glass that he won't do anything from the last album.
- Her last album, All I Have went gold back in 2002, and this new one is said to be even better.
3Only remaining: it’s our last hope...
- For a long period, Broadland was the last remaining major stronghold in the country.
- With scores level and one over remaining, the last pair were at the wicket.
- The batter was dry and crisp and remained so until the last scrap was eaten.
Synonyms
final, only remaining, only one left
adverb
1On the last occasion before the present; previously: a woman last heard of in Cornwall...
- Mrs Castell last heard from her son when he was in Kuwait, two days before the war began on March 20.
- Mr Cooper last heard from the company on July 29 and is waiting to see how things progress.
- The former must be assumed dead by now, and the latter was last heard of working in Switzerland.
2 [in combination] After all others in order or sequence: the last-named film
3(Especially in enumerating points) lastly: and last, I’d like to thank you all for coming
noun (plural same)
1The last person or thing; the one occurring, mentioned, or acting after all others: the last of their guests had gone he was eating as if every mouthful were his last...
- The present charter expires in three years' time and must be the last in the present form.
- There would have been a Media Frenzy, we wouldn't have heard the last of it for months.
- Thought you had heard the last of the libel case involving some Borough staff at BoS?
1.1 (the last of) The only part of something that remains: they drank the last of the wine
1.2 [in singular] The last position or finisher in a race or competition: Lion Cavern came from last in a slowly run race
1.3 (the last) The end or last moment, especially death: he was dead, having refused morphia to the last
Synonyms
end, ending, finish, close, conclusion, completion, finale, termination;
bitter end
1.4 (the last) The last mention or sight of someone or something: that was the last we saw of her...
- Her sister Kathleen visited him in Surbiton before he joined, but that was the last the family heard of him.
- But that was the last she heard from them until she visited the new Keighley office this month.
- We just know that they were going to abandon the life raft and that was it, that was the last we heard.
Phrases
at last
—— one's last
last but not least
one's (or the) last gasp
the last minute
last orders
the last straw
last thing
the last word
on one's last legs
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.
Rhymes
last2
/lɑːst/verb [no object]
1 [with adverbial] (Of a process, activity, or state) continue for a specified period of time: the guitar solo lasted for twenty minutes childhood seems to last forever...
- But today, the advantage that you get from outthinking the competition lasts an incredibly short period of time.
- The whole process lasted less than three minutes.
- This stage, which centers on colony growth lasts for a period ranging from four months to five years, depending on the species of ant.
Synonyms
continue, go on, carry on, keep on, keep going, run on, proceed, be prolonged;
take;
stay, remain, persist, endure
2Continue to operate or remain usable for a considerable or specified length of time: the car is built to last a lip pencil lasts longer than lipstick...
- Consider how long a cell-phone battery lasts in a benign environment.
- We have a cell phone, but it tends to reside in a drawer in the kitchen, not in her purse, as the battery only lasts about 5 hours, even if you don't use it.
- Its battery lasts 12 hours (as opposed to eight), and is easily changed for a new one when the first runs out.
Synonyms
endure, wear well, stand up, keep going, bear up;
withstand, resist
informal go the distance
2.1Manage to continue in a state or position; survive or endure: she managed to last out until the end of the programme his condition is so serious that he won’t last the night how long does he reckon he’ll last as manager?...
- I seem to remember that I managed to last out, but by the end I felt distinctly nauseous.
- Well, the greatest reward in World War II was survival, if you lasted through it.
- I went to a party last night but only lasted about an hour and a half before I felt too inexplicably grumpy to stay any longer and left.
Synonyms
survive, endure, hold on, hold out, keep going, persevere, exist
informal stick it out, hang on, stay around, hack it
2.2(Of provisions or resources) be adequate or sufficient for a specified length of time: green peppers which had been served with their rice while supplies lasted [with object]: he filled the freezer with enough food to last him for three months...
- Iraq is thought to have sufficient food stocks to last only until the end of April.
- The rule of thumb is that if a store has lasted over 30 years in this fickle climate then, clearly, the owners are experts deserving of your custom.
- Buy now while stocks last because property prices in Bradford are set to soar over the next decade.
Origin
Old English lǣstan, of Germanic origin, related to German leisten 'afford, yield', also to last3.
last3
/lɑːst/noun
A shoemaker’s model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.
Synonyms
mould, model, pattern, form, matrix;
anvil;
Northern English hobbing foot/boot
Origin
Old English lǣste, of Germanic origin, from a base meaning 'follow'; related to Dutch leest and German Leisten.
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