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last¹ Definition

last (last, läst)

adjective

  1. late
  2. being or coming after all others in place; farthest from the first; hindmost
  3. coming after all others in time; farthest from the beginning; latest
  4. only remaining took the last chocolate in the box
  5. directly before the present last month
  6. farthest from what is expected; least likely would be the last person to suspect anything
  7. utmost; greatest
  8. coming after all others in importance; lowest in rank
  9. newest the last thing in hats
  10. conclusive; authoritative the last word in scientific research
  11. individual: used as an intensive to spend every last cent

Etymology: ME laste, earlier latest, latst < OE latost, superl. of adj. læt, adv. late: see late

adverb

  1. late
  2. after all others; at the end
  3. most recently
  4. finally; in conclusion

noun

  1. someone or something which comes last the last of the kings
  2. the final or concluding part; end friends to the last

last¹ Idioms

at (long) last

after a long time; finally

see the last of

to see for the last time

last² Definition

last (last, läst)

intransitive verb

  1. to remain in existence or operation; continue; go on; endure
  2. to remain in good condition; wear well
  3. to continue unconsumed, unspent, etc. enough food to last for a month

Etymology: ME lasten < OE læstan, akin to Ger leisten, vt., to perform, carry out, Goth laistjan, lit., to follow in the track of < IE base *leis-, a track, spoor > L lira, furrow (see learn): sense development: to follow — to go on, continue

transitive verb

to continue or endure throughout: often with out doubtful whether he can last (out) the training period

last² Related Forms

last′er noun

last³ Definition

last (last, läst)

noun

a block or form shaped like a person's foot, on which shoes are made or repaired

Etymology: ME laste < OE læst, a boot, læste, shoemaker's last < base of last, footstep, track, furrow < same base as last

transitive verb

to form with a last

last³ Related Forms

last′er noun

last³ Idioms

stick to one's last

  1. to keep to one's own work
  2. to mind one's own business

last4 Definition

last (last, läst)

noun

a measure or weight that varies for different things and in different places, often one equal to 4,000 pounds

Etymology: ME laste < OE hlæst (akin to Ger last, OHG hlast) < base of hladan: see lade

last Synonyms

last

modif.

  1. Final

    ultimate, utmost, lowest, meanest, least, latest, latter, end, extreme, remotest, furthest, outermost, farthest, uttermost, conclusive, concluding, hindmost, far, far-off, aftermost, hindermost, determinative, determinate, ulterior, once and for all, definitive, after all others, ending, at the end, terminal, eventual, antipodal, terminative, terminating, directing, settling, resolving, decisive, crowning, climactic, closing, ending, finishing, unanswerable, irrefutable.

    Antonyms first*, foremost*, beginning. *

  2. Most recent

    latest, newest, current, freshest, immediate, most fashionable, in the fashion, modish, the last word*; see also fashionable, modern 1.

    Antonyms old*, stale*, outmoded.

last Synonyms

last

n.

  1. The end

    tail end, last one, terminal one, final one, ending; see also end 4.

  2. A shoemaker's mold

    form, cast, shape; see mold 1, 2.

at (long) last

after a long time, in the end, ultimately; see finally 2.

see the last of

see for the last time, never see again, dispose of, get rid of; see end 1.

last Synonyms

last

v.

  1. To endure

    continue, remain, persist, go on; see continue 1, endure 1, 2.

  2. To be sufficient

    hold out, be adequate, be enough, be ample, be satisfactory, serve, do, accomplish the purpose, answer; see also satisfy 3. See syn. study at continue.

last Usage Examples

Preposition: about

hour: Workshops are for 30 participants aged eight and up and last about an hour and a half.

Object

  • minute: The needles were warmed with the Chinese herb, Moxa, and each treatment lasted about 30 minutes.
  • hour: Examinations lasting 1¼ hours are sat on each module at the end of the Lower Sixth.
  • month: Farmers had expected the process to last 12 months.
  • week: Each scheme lasts 10 weeks, places are extremely limited and subject to a selection process.
  • year: The course in those days lasted two years 2, the men taking Schools in 1934 were not included in the photo.

Modifies a noun

  • year: Last year we raised over £ 2,500 for the Tsunami appeal.
  • week: Last week, the show played to less than 40 percent capacity.
  • night: Last night 's gig wasn't them at their best.
  • month: Last month the Welsh Assembly voted for a public inquiry into the service, which has been told to make savings of £ 10m.
  • season: The failure to achieve top six status last season probably cost the Club up to £ 600k in lost income from all sources.
  • decade: The last decade of Swift's life was not happy.

Used with adjective complement

  • do: Evidently, the system was not a success, for it did not last beyond 1966.
  • finish: I worked and reworked many times over, but it was mostly finished last April.
  • come: I don't understand it because normally r = s, an adverbial adjunct comes last in a sentence.

Adjective complement

less: When the Department of Employment compiles strike figures it excludes action which lasts less than 24 hours and involve less than ten workers.

Preposition: for

  • hour: Plus Points - Proven to last for 12 hours.
  • month: The discontented minority resorted to a boycott, lasting for months.
  • week: The consultation period will last for six weeks from Monday 19th June 2006 to Monday 31st July 2006.
  • decade: The conflict, which has lasted for two decades, has left the south in ruins.