Illustration of last
- 5last
lasted; lasting; lasts
1
: to continue in time
The movie lasted about two hours.
2
a
: to remain fresh or unimpaired : endure
That paint job should last a long time.
b
: to manage to continue (as in a course of action)
She won't last; she'll quit before the week's out.
c
: to continue to live
he will not last very much longer—
James Dennis
James Dennis1
: to be enough for the needs of
The supplies will last them a week.
2
: to continue in existence or action as long as or longer than
—often used with out
couldn't last out the training program
1
a
: following all the rest
He was the last one out.
b
: being the only remaining
our last dollar
2
: belonging to the final stage (as of life)
her last hours on earth
3
a
: next before the present : most recent
last week
His last book was a failure.
b
: most up-to-date : latest
It's the last thing in fashion.
4
a
: farthest from a specified quality, attitude, or likelihood
would be the last person to fall for flattery
b
: lowest in rank or standing
also
: worst
5
b
: conclusive
There is no last answer to the problem.
lastly
adverb
1
: after all others : at the end
came last and left first
2
: most lately
saw her last in Rome
3
: in conclusion
Last, let's consider the social aspect.
: something that is last
: a form (as of metal or plastic) which is shaped like the human foot and over which a shoe is shaped or repaired
Examples of last in a Sentence
Verb (1)
we were lucky that the batteries lasted until we could get to the store to buy more
this heavy drought has lasted all summer
Adjective
He was the last one out of the building.
She succeeded on her last attempt.
These are the last two books in the series.
We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
the last cookie in the jar
She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party.
Adverb
He spoke last at the meeting.
My horse was last in the race.
She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave.
I last saw him in the supermarket.
They last went to the beach in June.
This word was last used in the 17th century.
Recent Examples on the Web
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The team needs to stop signing over-the-hill pitchers who can’t last a full season.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2025
Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
After opening its 560,000-square-foot campus overlooking Lady Bird Lake in 2018, the software giant last year announced plans to relocate to Nashville's East Bank by 2031.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Arsenal have wrestled with the concept of getting value in the striker market during this transfer window and have at last agreed a deal to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Julia Moore, People.com, 25 July 2025
The 30-year-old last played at Wimbledon on June 30 in a first-round match against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova, eventually retiring from the match due to difficulty breathing.
—Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for last
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
However, the residency doesn’t last long: Conrad gets himself fired after refusing to take a break upon hearing about Steven’s accident, which leads to him mislabeling blood vials.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The team needs to stop signing over-the-hill pitchers who can’t last a full season.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2025
Adjective
The high school's five home games were played away last fall while the new bleachers remained under construction.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
After opening its 560,000-square-foot campus overlooking Lady Bird Lake in 2018, the software giant last year announced plans to relocate to Nashville's East Bank by 2031.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Adverb
Elsa/Getty Images Millar floated the idea of the Los Angeles Angels, who last made the postseason in 2014, finally trading Mike Trout to the contending Red Sox.
—Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Arsenal have wrestled with the concept of getting value in the striker market during this transfer window and have at last agreed a deal to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Noun
The showrunner's hunch that season 4 would be the show's last led him to make some creative decisions that would tidy things up.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 25 July 2025
The 30-year-old last played at Wimbledon on June 30 in a first-round match against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova, eventually retiring from the match due to difficulty breathing.
—Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for last
Cite this Entry
“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
last
1 of 6 verb1
: to continue in being or operation
lasted three hours
2
: to be enough for the needs of
supplies to last a week
last
2 of 6 noun
: a form which is shaped like the human foot and on which a shoe is shaped or repaired
last
3 of 6 verb
: to shape with a last
last
4 of 6 adjective1
a
: following all the rest in time, place, or rank
last one out
b
: being the only remaining
last dollar
2
: belonging to the final stage
3
: next before the present : latest
last week
4
: least likely
the last thing we'd want
last
5 of 6 adverb1
: at the end
ran last
2
: most lately
saw them last at school
3
: in conclusion
and last, I'd like to talk about success
last
6 of 6 noun
: something that is last
Etymology
Verb
Old English læstan "to last, follow"
Noun
Old English lǣste
Adjective
Old English latost "latest," from læt "late" — related to late entry 1
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