last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.
last page of a book
last news we had of him
final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.
final day of school
terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.
terminal phase of a disease
ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.
the ultimate collapse of the system
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
Verb
The illustration, which featured on the debut edition of the 1997 novel, was sold for $1.9 million by Sotheby's New York after a four-way bidding battle that lasted almost 10 minutes.—Freddy Foulston, CBS News, 27 June 2024 The districts researchers looked at for that study offered summer programs that lasted an average of about 17 days.—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2024
Adjective
Those plans didn’t pan out, hindered by dual Hollywood strikes that limited production of fresh content and the decline of people renting physical DVDs that even forced rival Netflix to quit that part of its business last year.—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 1 July 2024 Here’s a list of how many fatalities were reported last year:
Lake Michigan, 41
Lake Erie, 17
Lake Ontario, 17
Lake Superior, 6
Lake Huron, 4
The majority of people that died after visiting one of the lakes listed above was drowning, the organization said.—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 1 July 2024
Adverb
According to an arrest warrant, Hogg was last seen on Feb. 8 near Reid's home in Barnwell.—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 2 July 2024 Over the past three weeks, the extra yield investors demand to hold 10-year French bonds over safer German debt rocketed to more than 80 basis points, levels last seen during the euro area’s sovereign debt crisis.—Beth Greenfield, Fortune Europe, 1 July 2024
Noun
The Current last appeared in the NWSL championship game in 2022, losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2024 Hot Nerves The neural pulse that scientists have tried for so long to explain lasts for only an instant.—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2018 See all Example Sentences for last
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'last.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English lǣstan to last, follow; akin to Old English lāst footprint
Adverb
Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt late
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; akin to Old High German leist shoemaker's last, Latin lira furrow — more at learn
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