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 Dennis
1
: 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.
: a form (as of metal or plastic) which is shaped like the human foot and over which a shoe is shaped or repaired
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
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Today’s newsletter shows why batteries that can last for days is a wide-open field where other countries can make inroads. —Coco Liu, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026 In 2023, the company worked on fewer than fifty ransomware recoveries; last year, the total was nearly three hundred. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026 Alyssa Hammond, 37, was last seen in Little Rock, the department said Wednesday in a social media post. —Jesse Cain, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026 And depending on how long the conflict lasts, higher food and packaging costs could eat into the company’s margins. —Wire Tbd, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
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.
Verb
Like anything that lasts and actually has meaning, it was created by people who genuinely loved something. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Today’s newsletter shows why batteries that can last for days is a wide-open field where other countries can make inroads. —Coco Liu, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Missy Bo Kearns Made her debut as a substitute away at Spain last year — a baptism of fire — and was in consecutive England squads after Euro 2025, starting against Ghana in December. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026 In 2023, the company worked on fewer than fifty ransomware recoveries; last year, the total was nearly three hundred. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Adverb
At long last, the Kansas City Royals’ half-decade search for a new stadium location is nearing a conclusion. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026 Alyssa Hammond, 37, was last seen in Little Rock, the department said Wednesday in a social media post. —Jesse Cain, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Reviewers vary on how long the battery lasts, but the consensus is around 30 minutes. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026 And depending on how long the conflict lasts, higher food and packaging costs could eat into the company’s margins. —Wire Tbd, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Cite this Entry
“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/last. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
last
1 of 6 verb
1
: 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 adjective
1
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 adverb
1
: 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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