last
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
coming after all others in time or order; final.
Most recent; immediately preceding; only remaining; least likely or suitable; endure or continue.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous word with distinct meanings as adjective, adverb, noun, and verb. The temporal 'final' sense and the durative 'continue' sense are semantically distant but historically related.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In dates, BrE often uses 'last' with the definite article ('I saw her the last Friday in June'), while AmE may omit it ('I saw her last Friday in June'). The verb 'to last' is used identically.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Last + [time period] (last week)The last + [noun] (the last train)Last + [preposition] + [noun] (last in line)To last + [duration] (last two hours)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on its last legs”
- “to the last”
- “last but not least”
- “have the last laugh”
- “last-ditch effort”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The last quarter's figures show improvement." (adj) / "The meeting lasted three hours." (verb)
Academic
"The last chapter synthesises the key arguments." (adj)
Everyday
"What did you do last weekend?" (adj) / "How long will the battery last?" (verb)
Technical
"Execute the last instruction in the sequence." (adj)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The storm is not expected to last through the night.
- These shoes have lasted me five years.
American English
- The meeting lasted almost three hours.
- A good coat should last many seasons.
adverb
British English
- She arrived last, just as we were leaving.
- Which item on the list did you check last?
American English
- He spoke last at the conference.
- I finished my work last.
adjective
British English
- He missed the last train home.
- I read her latest book, but I preferred her last one.
American English
- Take the last cookie if you want it.
- My last car was a lot more reliable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a good film last night.
- She was the last person in the queue.
- The lesson lasts 45 minutes.
- We finally found the house, last on the right.
- This is my last warning to you.
- The battery won't last much longer.
- He's the last person I'd ask for financial advice.
- The ceasefire lasted barely a week before fighting resumed.
- Let's consider every option; this is a last resort.
- The director's last-gasp substitution changed the outcome of the match.
- The tradition, which lasts to this day, began in the 18th century.
- His argument didn't hold water and was the last straw for many supporters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a race: the person who crosses the line LAST is at the END. To LAST a long time is to ENDURE until the END.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (the 'last' point on a timeline); ENDURANCE IS PHYSICAL STRENGTH (something that 'lasts' is strong).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse adjective 'last' (последний) with adverb 'last' (в прошлый раз).
- The verb 'to last' (длиться, продолжаться) is a false friend with Russian 'ластить' (to flatter).
- In phrases like 'last week', no preposition is used, unlike Russian 'на прошлой неделе'.
Common Mistakes
- *I have seen him the last Monday. (Incorrect: Use 'last Monday' without 'the' for the most recent Monday.)
- *This is the last news. (Incorrect for 'latest news'; 'last news' implies finality, e.g., of a broadcast.)
- *The film lasted during two hours. (Incorrect preposition; use 'The film lasted two hours.')
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'last' function as an adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Latest' means 'most recent'. 'Last' can mean 'most recent' (last week) OR 'final' (the last page of a book). 'Latest' cannot mean 'final'.
Yes, but carefully. 'The last train' is the final one tonight. 'My last day' is my final day (e.g., at a job). It refers to the final instance in a perceived series.
Yes, but it changes meaning. 'Last year' = the year before this one (e.g., 2023 in 2024). 'The last year' = the final year of something (e.g., of a degree) OR can mean 'the previous 12-month period up to now'.
It is an intransitive verb meaning 'to continue for a period of time' (The film lasts two hours). It can be used transitively with a reflexive meaning: 'This coat has lasted me ten years' (it has continued to serve me for that time).
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.