eleventh hour

noun

: the latest possible time before it is too late
still making changes at the eleventh hour

Examples of eleventh hour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Finally, at the eleventh hour, Congress managed to strike a deal, and President Obama signed the Budget Control Act on August 2, averting disaster. Mary Childs, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 This Week in Business Tech News Business Technology News #1 – FTC's click-to-cancel rule has been struck down by federal judges at the eleventh hour. Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 The news came at the eleventh hour, as the levy was due to go into effect, with a retroactive stipulation, on Monday, June 30. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 June 2025 President-elect Donald Trump is working on options to postpone the ban but TikTok did not wait for an eleventh hour reprieve and instead pulled the plug. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eleventh hour

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eleventh hour was in 1821

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Cite this Entry

“Eleventh hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eleventh%20hour. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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