last
gb/lˈæst/ us/lˈæst/
A1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
Final in time or order
Happening or coming at the end.
Usage pattern:
the last [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'last' with 'latest'. 'Last' means final, while 'latest' means most recent.
Synonyms
final (More formal and often used in official contexts.)
Antonyms
first (Indicates the beginning rather than the end.)
Collocations
last time
|last chance
|last week
|last day
|last place
Themes
time
|sequence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This is the last bus of the night.
- She was the last person to leave the room.
- We spent our last day at the beach.
- The last chapter of the book was exciting.
- He finished in last place in the race.
Learner examples
- This is my last apple.
- I saw her last week.
- We have one last game to play.
- Today is our last day here.
- He is the last student in line.
Verb
A2
action
2
Continue for a period
To continue for a period of time.
Usage pattern:
to last [time period]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'take' instead of 'last'. 'Take' refers to the time needed to do something; 'last' refers to the duration something continues.
Synonyms
endure (More formal; often used for difficult situations.)
Antonyms
stop (To come to an end immediately.)
Collocations
last forever
|last long
|last until
|last for hours
|last a lifetime
Themes
time
|events
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The meeting lasted three hours.
- Her happiness didn’t last long.
- This battery should last for two days.
- The storm lasted all night.
- Their friendship has lasted for decades.
Learner examples
- The class lasts one hour.
- The movie lasts two hours.
- The rain will not last long.
- Our holiday lasts two weeks.
- The battery lasts a long time.
adjective
A1
property
3
Most recent before now
Happening most recently before now.
Usage pattern:
last [time period]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'last' with 'past'. 'Past' can refer to any earlier time, not only the most recent one.
Synonyms
previous (More formal; can refer to earlier points beyond most recent.)
Antonyms
next (Refers to the following in sequence or time.)
Collocations
last night
|last week
|last month
|last year
|last summer
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I saw her last week.
- They visited us last summer.
- He called me last night.
- We met at the party last month.
- Last year was very challenging for me.
Learner examples
- I went there last week.
- I saw him last night.
- We met last month.
- It snowed last winter.
- She came here last year.
Noun
A2
entity
4
Final person or thing
The final person or thing in a group or list.
Synonyms
end (Refers more generally to a stopping point rather than a position in sequence.)
Antonyms
first (The initial person or thing in a sequence.)
Collocations
at last
|the very last
|save the best for last
Themes
sequence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|time
Examples
- She was the last to leave the party.
- This piece of cake is the last.
- He finished second to last in the race.
- That's the last of our supplies.
- The last will be decided tomorrow.
Learner examples
- I am the last in line.
- This is the last of the bread.
- She was the last to speak.
- He is the last on the list.
- That is the last we have.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
Form used to make shoes
A hard model of a foot used for making shoes.
Synonyms
foot form (Descriptive term; less common outside technical contexts.)
Collocations
wooden last
|metal last
Themes
crafts
|manufacturing
|clothing
|work
Examples
- The cobbler placed the shoe over a wooden last.
- Each shoe is made using a custom last.
- He adjusted the leather around the last for a perfect fit.
Learner examples
- The shoemaker uses a wooden last.
- This shoe was made on a special last.
- A metal last is heavy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
last
IPA
GB/lˈæst/
US/lˈæst/
Syllables & stress
last (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (last)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: last
Noun
- Base: last
- Plural: lasts
Verb
- Base: last
- 3rd Person Singular: lasts
- Present Participle: lasting
- Past: lasted
Word family
Expressions
at last
1/ˈæt lˈæst/
fixed phrase
Finally after waiting or delay
Used when something happens after waiting for a long time.
Examples
- At last, we arrived at our destination.
- She finished her book at last.
last but not least
1/lˈæst bˈʌt nˈɑt lˈist/
fixed phrase
Important though mentioned last
Used to say that someone or something is important, even though mentioned at the end of a list.
Examples
- Last but not least, I want to thank my parents.
- We met many people — and, last but not least, our future business partner.
make something last
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ lˈæst/
fixed phrase
Extend how long something continues
To use something slowly so it continues for more time.
Examples
- I tried to make my coffee last all morning.
- We need to make our supplies last until help arrives.
to the last
1/tə ðə lˈæst/
fixed phrase
Continue until very end point/moment
Until the very end of something.
Examples
- He fought bravely to the last.
- She stayed loyal to the last.