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
Synonyms
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
Max Golembo, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Plus, the rechargeable battery lasts for months, so you’re not left scrambling for a ladder every week.
—Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2025
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
With the passing last year of Dickey Betts, combined with the deaths in the last decade of Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks, tributes to the Allman Brothers Band have taken on a new poignancy.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2025
Jessie Yeung, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
The city last hosted Super Bowl 47 in 2013, which saw the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers — plus a halftime show by Beyoncé and a brief power outage that together broke the internet.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025
Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025
How long an asthma attack lasts can vary from person to person.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 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
For New England and the inland Northeast, icy roads will last into the afternoon.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2025
Plus, the rechargeable battery lasts for months, so you’re not left scrambling for a ladder every week.
—Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Gascón’s controversial social media posts were revealed by journalist Sarah Hagi last week.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
With the passing last year of Dickey Betts, combined with the deaths in the last decade of Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks, tributes to the Allman Brothers Band have taken on a new poignancy.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2025
Adverb
Details of disappearance The plane missing in Alaska, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was last seen over the Norton Sound around 3:16 p.m. Thursday, data from flight tracker FlightRadar 24 shows.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
The city last hosted Super Bowl 47 in 2013, which saw the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers — plus a halftime show by Beyoncé and a brief power outage that together broke the internet.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
The type of health effects a person experiences can depend on how much smoke and particulate matter a person is exposed to, how long the exposure lasts and individual risk factors such as socioeconomic status and underlying health conditions.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025
How long an asthma attack lasts can vary from person to person.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for last
Dictionary Entries Near last
Cite this Entry
“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last. Accessed 10 Feb. 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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