Last | Mean of last in English Dictionary

/ˈlæst/

• Verb
• to continue in time
1. How long does the movie last?
2. The movie lasts (for) about two hours. [=the movie is about two hours long]
3. The conference starts on Monday and it lasts until Friday.
4. The game lasted (for) three hours.
5. Don't worry, the storm won't/can't last. [=the storm will end soon]
• to continue in good condition
1. The car should last 10 years.
2. I doubt that those boots will last (much longer).
3. That bridge will last a long time.
4. Our products are built to last.
• to continue to be available
1. These oranges are on sale while they/supplies last. [=they are on sale until they have all been sold]

• to continue to be enough for the needs of someone
1. We have enough food to last (for) the rest of the week.
2. We have enough food to last us (for) the rest of the week.
3. That car should last you ten years. [=you should not have to get another car for ten years]
• to be able to continue in a particular situation or condition
1. I am not sure he will last in his new job.
2. Can you last a whole day without cigarettes?
• to continue to live
1. My father is very ill. He may not last much longer.
2. He may not last (through) the night. [=he may die before the night has ended]
3. (chiefly Brit) He may not last out the night.
• coming after all others in time, order, or importance
1. He was the last one out of the building.
2. She succeeded on her last attempt.
3. These are the last two books in the series.
4. He was sitting in the last [=back] row.
5. We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
6. The (very) last time we ever met was at a party. = (Brit) The last ever time we met was at a party.
7. I'll have my revenge if it's the last thing I (ever) do! [=I am determined to get my revenge]
• remaining after the rest are gone
1. I am down to my last dollar. [=I have one dollar left]
2. the last cookie in the jar
3. She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
• belonging to the final part of something
1. He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
2. the last hours of her life = her last hours on earth
• most recent
1. I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party.
2. I liked her last [=previous] novel better than this new one.
3. Last month we went to the museum.
4. The weather was fine last week, but this week has been rainy, and next week is expected to be cold.
5. He had trouble last semester in school.
6. We saw them last week.
• least likely
1. You are the last person I would expect to see here. [=I never expected to see you here]
2. That is the last place I would have looked for the ring. [=I would never have expected to find the ring there]
• least desirable
1. Another bill to pay is the last thing I need right now!
• least important
1. Right now work is the last thing on my mind. [=I am not thinking about work at all right now]
• a final attempt or effort made at the very end
1. This movie may be his last gasp as an actor.
2. winter's last gasp [=the last bit of winter weather before spring]
• after everything else
1. Heat the vegetables last thing so that they don't get cold.
2. I'll be back last thing (on) Monday night.
• after any others in time, order, or importance
1. He spoke last at the meeting.
2. My horse was/finished last in the race.
3. My horse came in last. = (chiefly Brit) My horse came last.
4. Last (of all) came the soldiers and tanks.
5. She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave.
6. The best part of the book comes last. [=the best part of the book comes at the end]
7. His job was all he really cared about. His personal life always came last.
• most recently
1. I last saw him in the supermarket.
2. They last went to the beach in June.
3. This word was last used in the 17th century.
• the last person or thing in a group or series
1. He was the last in line.
2. It was the last of many delays.
3. She was the last to leave.
4. The last of the tests was given today.
5. This is the first time we've been here, but it definitely won't be the last! [=we will definitely come here again]
• the last time someone is seen, something is mentioned, etc.
1. I guess that is the last we will see of her. [=the last time we will see her]
2. I hope that we have finally seen the last of them. [=I hope that we will not see them again]
3. He knew he had not heard the last of his mistake. [=that people would continue to talk to him about his mistake]
4. Don't tell them about your mistake or you'll never hear the last of it. [=they'll keep reminding you of it]
• a final action
1. I've spoken my last on this subject. [=I've spoken for the last time on this subject; I will not be saying anything more on this subject]
• the end of something
1. We stayed at the game till/until the last. [=until it ended]
2. They fought hard to the last.
• the end of someone's life
1. He was cheerful to the last. [=until he died]
• the final thing or things that have been mentioned previously
1. They had cats, dogs, and a horse. This last [=the horse] was kept in an old barn.
• the most recent one of something
1. The week before last [=the week before last week] I saw him at a restaurant.
2. the night before last
• to die
1. This is the room where he breathed his last. [=where he breathed his last breath; where he died]
• Noun
• after a delay or long period of time
1. She was at last [=finally] reunited with her sister.
2. We're finished at last.
3. “We're finished.” “At last!”
4. It appears that this problem will soon be solved, at long last.