1 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
verb
lasts;
lasted;
lasting
1 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
verb
lasts;
lasted;
lasting
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAST
1
a
[no object]
:
to continue in time
-
How long does the movie last?
-
The movie lasts (for) about two hours. [=the movie is about two hours long]
-
The conference starts on Monday and it lasts until Friday.
-
The game lasted (for) three hours.
-
Don't worry, the storm won't/can't last. [=the storm will end soon]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
[no object]
:
to continue in good condition
-
The car should last 10 years.
-
I doubt that those boots will last (much longer).
-
That bridge will last a long time.
-
Our products are built to last.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
c
[no object]
:
to continue to be available
-
These oranges are on sale while they/supplies last. [=they are on sale until they have all been sold]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
d
:
to continue to be enough for the needs of someone
[no object]
-
We have enough food to last (for) the rest of the week.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
[+ object]
-
We have enough food to last us (for) the rest of the week.
-
That car should last you ten years. [=you should not have to get another car for ten years]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
2
[no object]
a
:
to be able to continue in a particular situation or condition
-
I am not sure he will last in his new job.
-
Can you last a whole day without cigarettes?
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
to continue to live
-
My father is very ill. He may not last much longer.
-
He may not last (through) the night. [=he may die before the night has ended]
-
(chiefly Brit) He may not last out the night.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
last the distance
— see 1distance
2 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
adjective
2 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAST
1
a
:
coming after all others in time, order, or importance
:
final
-
He was the last one out of the building.
-
She succeeded on her last attempt.
-
These are the last two books in the series.
-
He was sitting in the last [=back] row.
-
We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
-
The (very) last time we ever met was at a party. = (Brit) The last ever time we met was at a party.
-
I'll have my revenge if it's the last thing I (ever) do! [=I am determined to get my revenge]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
remaining after the rest are gone
-
I am down to my last dollar. [=I have one dollar left]
-
the last cookie in the jar
-
She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
2
:
belonging to the final part of something
-
He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
-
the last hours of her life = her last hours on earth
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
3
:
most recent
-
I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party.
-
I liked her last [=previous] novel better than this new one.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
— used to identify a preceding period of time
-
Last month we went to the museum.
-
The weather was fine last week, but this week has been rainy, and next week is expected to be cold.
-
He had trouble last semester in school.
-
We saw them last week.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
4
a
:
least likely
-
You are the last person I would expect to see here. [=I never expected to see you here]
-
That is the last place I would have looked for the ring. [=I would never have expected to find the ring there]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
least desirable
-
Another bill to pay is the last thing I need right now!
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
c
:
least important
-
Right now work is the last thing on my mind. [=I am not thinking about work at all right now]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
every last
— used as a more forceful way of saying every
-
Every last soldier was captured. [=every soldier was captured]
-
He ate every last cookie. [=he ate every cookie]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
in the last analysis
— see analysis
last gasp
:
a final attempt or effort made at the very end
-
This movie may be his last gasp as an actor.
-
winter's last gasp [=the last bit of winter weather before spring]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
— see also last-gasp
last thing
:
after everything else
-
Heat the vegetables last thing so that they don't get cold.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
:
very late
-
I'll be back last thing (on) Monday night.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
on your/its last legs
— see 1leg
the last laugh
— see 2laugh
the last moment
— see moment
the last straw
— see straw
the last word
— see 1word
to the last man
— see 1man
3 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
adverb
3 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAST
1
:
after any others in time, order, or importance
-
He spoke last at the meeting.
-
My horse was/finished last in the race.
-
My horse came in last. = (chiefly Brit) My horse came last.
-
Last (of all) came the soldiers and tanks.
-
She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
:
at the end
-
The best part of the book comes last. [=the best part of the book comes at the end]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
◊ In figurative use, something or someone that comes last is less important than other things or people. His job was all he really cared about. His personal life always came last. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
2
:
most recently
:
on the most recent occasion
-
I last saw him in the supermarket.
-
They last went to the beach in June.
-
This word was last used in the 17th century.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
3
— used to introduce a final statement or subject
-
Last, I'd like to talk about the company's future.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
first and last
— see 2first
last but not least
— used to say that a final statement is not less important than previous statements
-
The television is big, has an excellent picture, and last but not least, it's cheap.
-
Last but not least, I would like to introduce our new vice president.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
4 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
pronoun
4 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAST
1
the last
:
the last person or thing in a group or series
-
He was the last in line.
-
It was the last of many delays.
-
She was the last to leave.
-
The last of the tests was given today.
-
This is the first time we've been here, but it definitely won't be the last! [=we will definitely come here again]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
2
a
the last
:
the last time someone is seen, something is mentioned, etc.
-
I guess that is the last we will see of her. [=the last time we will see her]
-
I hope that we have finally seen the last of them. [=I hope that we will not see them again]
-
He knew he had not heard the last of his mistake. [=that people would continue to talk to him about his mistake]
-
Don't tell them about your mistake or you'll never hear the last of it. [=they'll keep reminding you of it]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
a final action
-
I've spoken my last on this subject. [=I've spoken for the last time on this subject; I will not be saying anything more on this subject]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
c
informal
— used to describe the most recent information you have about someone or something
-
“Where's Hank these days?” “(The) Last I heard, he was living in New York.” [=the most recent information I have heard is that he was living in New York]
-
“Do you know where my keys are?” “(The) Last I saw [=the last time I saw them], they were in the kitchen.”
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
3
the last
a
:
the end of something
-
We stayed at the game till/until the last. [=until it ended]
-
They fought hard to the last.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
the end of someone's life
-
He was cheerful to the last. [=until he died]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
4
a
:
the final thing or things that have been mentioned previously
-
They had cats, dogs, and a horse. This last [=the horse] was kept in an old barn.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
b
:
the most recent one of something
-
The week before last [=the week before last week] I saw him at a restaurant.
-
the night before last
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
breathe your last
literary
:
to die
-
This is the room where he breathed his last. [=where he breathed his last breath; where he died]
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
5 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
noun
5 last
/ˈlæst/ Brit /ˈlɑːst/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAST
at last
or
at long last
:
after a delay or long period of time
-
She was at last [=finally] reunited with her sister.
-
We're finished at last.
-
“We're finished.” “At last!”
-
It appears that this problem will soon be solved, at long last.
[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
