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
Her career kicked off in the late 1940s and lasted all the way through a reunion with Trintignant in The Best Years (Les Plus belles annees), Lelouch’s 2019 epilogue to A Man and a Woman.—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024 While other polar bear populations might be able to relocate to places with longer lasting, thick ice, the Hudson Bay bears don’t have that luxury.—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2024
Adjective
All but one of Arizona’s Republican U.S. representatives voted last week for a House bill that would have restored Arlington National Cemetery’s Confederate Memorial which was removed in December.—Sabine Martin, The Arizona Republic, 19 June 2024 Circuit Court Judge Richard Brueggemann denied Gentry’s request to move the trial to another county in an order filed last week.—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 19 June 2024
Adverb
According to Boisvert, the vehicle that struck Daniels was described as a red Honda Accord that left the scene and was last spotted heading south on Main Street after the collision.—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024 Additional plot details are being kept under wraps and there is not yet confirmation as to whether EP Laurie’s Richard Roper, who was last seen in the back of a paddy wagon driven by arms buyers who were not best pleased with him, will return to star.—Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 June 2024
Noun
Now, the Orioles have to hope those two innings against the Rays weren’t the 34-year-old’s last for a long time.—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2024 Holliday asked to wear No. 7, unofficially retired since Cal Sr. last put on an Orioles jersey in 1992, as a tribute to his father, Matt, and their baseball family.—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024 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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