last 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of lastnext
1
as in final
following all others of the same kind in order or time last one in the pool is a rotten egg fans waiting for the last book in the series to be released

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conclusive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning a book that purports to be the last word on the investigation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in most
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity our last praise should be reserved for those original thinkers who expand the frontiers of science and technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

last

2 of 2

verb

ˈlast How to pronounce last (audio)
1
as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs we were lucky that the batteries lasted until we could get to the store to buy more

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remain
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state this heavy drought has lasted all summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," 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

When is it sensible to use final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of last
Adjective
Lacy had declared for the NFL Draft after leading LSU in touchdowns receiving with nine last season, but his draft stock plummeted following news of the fatal car wreck. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has praised May for showing maturity in the way he’s started this season, and the pitcher agreed, pointing out how difficult his last few seasons were. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
Officials first broke ground on the site in 2023, but the project fell to a standstill amid lasting COVID-19 pandemic delays and parties’ struggle to finalize a development plan as the size and scope of the project continued to change. —Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025 The Great Migration brought many Black American artists and thinkers to New York City, famously spurring the Harlem Renaissance, which lasted from the end of World War I through the 1920s. —Johanna K. Taylor, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
  1. final
  2. conclusive
  3. most
  4. survive
  5. remain
  6. latest
  7. decisive
  8. prevail
Adjective
  • The Yorktown's final resting place wasn't discovered until a 1998 expedition found it about 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Today’s sentence is the culmination of justice, but this is not the final chapter of Kyhara’s life story.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of final
Adjective
  • Estimates of people with other arrhythmias are less conclusive, but in general, people with arrhythmias are at higher risk of having heart attacks or strokes and dying early, Pell said.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
  • While some studies have found potential associations—often at higher-than-recommended levels—experts caution that the evidence is mixed and not conclusive.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of conclusive
Adjective
  • The commercial weather forecasting service says a storm is expected to move across the eastern half of North America during the peak shower activity, spreading clouds across most of the East Coast.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • So far, 2025 has been relatively calm at the pump for most Americans, thanks in part to OPEC’s ongoing restoration of oil production and continued uncertainty surrounding tariff policy and its potential impact on the global economy.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of most
Verb
  • If young curlews cannot survive to reproductive age, conservationists fear there won’t be enough breeding birds to replenish the species’ numbers, which could cause the entire population to collapse.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
  • There is a vast tide of Imperial functionaries, from soldiers to bureaucrats to technicians, all conforming to survive the predations of the Emperor’s whims.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of survive
Verb
  • Whether cooking for Hollywood stars or crafting simple dishes for his audience, Arya remained grounded in the belief that true success comes from being real, not manufactured.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Others have warned that Trump could just ignore the Constitution and simply remain in office, with no clear way to force him out.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of remain
Adjective
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    — Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
Definition of latest
Adjective
  • That’s exactly what WWE fans got inside Allegiant Stadium, with a short but sweet bout that ended in decisive fashion when Cargill demolished Naomi with a massive Jaded finisher.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • And, in fact, Democrats are winning special elections month after month after month, including most recently a decisive one in Wisconsin earlier this month for the state Supreme Court.
    — Isabel Danzis, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of decisive
Verb
  • Light winds are expected to prevail, potentially keeping transport levels low and aiding in containment of the wildfire.
    — Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • While most losses were caused by fraud, ransomware prevailed as the largest threat to critical infrastructure in 2024, the FBI said.
    — Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of prevail

Phrases Containing last

Browse Nearby Words

lassos
last
last (beyond)
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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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