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Definition of lastnext
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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
Zhang heads a seven-member jury for Busan’s competition, which launched last year and this year features 13 titles. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Rather than arenas, Smith is continuing the To Be Free global residency, which kicked off last fall at Brooklyn’s Warsaw and has included runs at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre, Mexico and the United Kingdom. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
The gift market has grown because consumers are increasingly drawn to objects with meaning and lasting value, rather than things that feel disposable in an already very digital world. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 This time, experts and advocates hope there’s lasting change. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • Peacock is planning for a 2028 premiere, the same year Fast Forever, the 11th and final installment of the Fast & Furious film franchise, will premiere.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The conversation and the word itself, which gives the seventh and final episode its title, unlocks the Biblical underpinnings and the complexities governing many of the main characters.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Still, the final score was 31-14, a conclusive win for Ohio State, but hardly the embarrassment of Alabama-MSU.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And likewise, the evidence against attachment isn’t conclusive.
    — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The aircraft has an endurance of more than 30 hours, depending on its configuration and mission profile, and can achieve a maximum speed of approximately 210 knots.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The maximum demand predicated for California is about 30 million or 35 million, Thompson said.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Some survive because treatment works, not because the cancer was detected earlier; others survive because they were overdiagnosed (diagnosed with a cancer not destined to cause symptoms or death).
    — H. Gilbert Welch, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The best-selling novels follow the chaotic and relatable Brooks family as their eldest, Lottie, 11 and ¾, tries to survive the awkwardness of growing up.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Neutron experiments instead found that the manganese spins remain essentially aligned.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Diesel prices could remain elevated for a year, according to a new survey of oil and gas executives.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
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 American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.
    — Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Every action is decisive and cannot be reversed, just as the film runs ever forward through the projector.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The decisive Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night in Las Vegas.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • While the Houthis control most of the people, the PLC controls most of the resources and money.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For now, most NFL teams play international games less than once a year.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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