last Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the temporal end; the concluding time
    finish; finis; finale; close; stopping point; conclusion.
    • the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
    • the market was up at the finish
    • they were playing better at the close of the season
  2. noun the last or lowest in an ordering or series
    • he was the last to leave
    • he finished an inglorious last
  3. noun a person's dying act; the final thing a person can do
    • he breathed his last
  4. noun the time at which life ends; continuing until dead
    death.
    • she stayed until his death
    • a struggle to the last
  5. noun a unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds
  6. noun a unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels
  7. noun the concluding parts of an event or occurrence
    final stage; end.
    • the end was exciting
    • I had to miss the last of the movie
  8. noun holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes
    shoemaker's last; cobbler's last.
  9. verb persist for a specified period of time
    endure.
    • The bad weather lasted for three days
  10. verb continue to live through hardship or adversity
    live on; hold up; live; endure; hold out; go; survive.
    • We went without water and food for 3 days
    • These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
    • The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
    • how long can a person last without food and water?
  11. adjective satellite immediately past
    • last Thursday
    • the last chapter we read
  12. adjective coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining
    • the last time I saw Paris
    • the last day of the month
    • had the last word
    • waited until the last minute
    • he raised his voice in a last supreme call
    • the last game of the season
    • down to his last nickel
  13. adjective satellite occurring at or forming an end or termination
    concluding; terminal; final.
    • his concluding words came as a surprise
    • the final chapter
    • the last days of the dinosaurs
    • terminal leave
  14. adjective satellite most unlikely or unsuitable
    • the last person we would have suspected
    • the last man they would have chosen for the job
  15. adjective satellite occurring at the time of death
    • his last words
    • the last rites
  16. adjective satellite conclusive in a process or progression
    net; final.
    • the final answer
    • a last resort
    • the net result
  17. adjective satellite highest in extent or degree
    utmost.
    • to the last measure of human endurance
    • whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was...to be determined individually
  18. adjective satellite not to be altered or undone
    final.
    • the judge's decision is final
    • the arbiter will have the last say
  19. adjective satellite lowest in rank or importance
    last-place; lowest.
    • last prize
    • in last place
  20. adverb most_recently
    • I saw him last in London
  21. adverb the item at the end
    in conclusion; finally; lastly.
    • last, I'll discuss family values

WordNet

Last 3rd person singular present
Definitions
  1. of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth. Obs. Chaucer.
Last adjective
Etymology
OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest.
Definitions
  1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.
    Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. Neh. viii. 18.
    Fairest of stars, last in the train of night. Milton.
  2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.
  3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
    Contending for principles of the last importance. R. Hall
    .
  4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. Pope.
  5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.
    And blunder on in business to the last. Pope.
    Syn. -- At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived. "eventually" also suggests a (relatively) long interval, but does not specifically imply any interruptions
Last adverb
Etymology
See Last, a.
Definitions
  1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.
  2. In conclusion; finally. = lastly
    Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires. Dryden.
  3. At a time next preceding the present time.
    How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask ? Shak.
Last intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. lasten, As. læstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. last, lst, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lasted; present participle & verbal noun Lasting
Definitions
  1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.
    [I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted. Testament of Love.
  2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.
Last noun
Etymology
AS. lasttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. läst, Dan. læst, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.
Definitions
  1. A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.
    The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. L'Estrange.
Last transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.
Last noun
Etymology
As. hlæst, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.
Definitions
  1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.
  2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.

Webster 1913