# last

/ˈɫæs/ (US) · /lˈɑːst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/last
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. most recent

determiner · CEFR A1

the one that happened just before now.

For teachers: denoting the person or thing immediately preceding the present or the one most recently mentioned.

- We went to a great Italian restaurant last night.
- Last year saw a significant increase in remote work across the tech sector, a trend that few analysts predicted would hold so firmly.

### 2. final

adjective · CEFR A1

coming after all others in a series or group.

For teachers: coming after all others in time, order, or importance; ultimate in a sequence.

- This is the last bus of the evening, so don't miss it.
- The last chapter of the biography provides a moving account of the artist's final years in rural France.

### 3. least likely

adjective · CEFR B2

the person or thing you would least expect or want.

For teachers: the least likely or suitable; the most remote from a given quality or condition.

- He is the last person I expected to see at the party.
- Given her reputation for punctuality, she was the last person the manager expected to arrive late for the board meeting.

### 4. most recently

adverb · CEFR A2

the most recent time that something happened.

For teachers: on the most recent occasion.

- When did you last see your brother?
- The policy was last updated in 2010, making it largely irrelevant to the current digital landscape.

### 5. at the end

adverb · CEFR A2

after everything or everyone else.

For teachers: after all others in a sequence or series.

- I saved the best news for last.
- The runner started slowly but managed to overtake the leaders, finishing last in the first heat but winning the final.

### 6. to continue

verb · CEFR A2

to continue for a particular amount of time.

For teachers: to continue in time; to endure or remain functional for a specific duration.

- The meeting lasted for two hours.
- The battery is designed to last for up to ten hours of continuous video playback under normal operating conditions.

Usage: This verb is often followed by a duration or a time expression.

### 7. shoemaking tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a model of a foot used by a shoemaker to shape a shoe.

For teachers: a mechanical form that has a shape similar to that of a human foot, used by shoemakers in the manufacture and repair of shoes.

- The cobbler placed the leather over the wooden last to shape the boot.
- Bespoke shoemakers maintain individual lasts for each client to ensure a perfect fit across different styles of footwear.

## Examples

- I was the last to arrive at the party.
- The last of the summer fruit was sold at the market early this morning.
- While many competitors dropped out during the final lap, he remained determined not to be the last to cross the finish line.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.