last

Most recent one

Three separately derived words in English have the spelling last—a fact that explains its frequency and versatility.

As a verb, last means continue or endure.

An old but minor meaning of last as a noun is for an object shaped like a foot, used to build or repair a shoe.

As an adjective and adverb, last has the meaning after all others and is the opposite of first.

This is its most frequent use.

remaining

sole

Foot's bottom surface

onlyExclusively, nothing more
loneExisting by itself
singleOne in number

solitary · surviving · final · remnant · residual · leftover · straggling · enduring · persisting · holdout

sequence

final

Last and decisive

terminalAt the endpoint
endFinal portion or cessation
tailRear animal appendage

rear · bottom · lowest · worst · least · trailing · hindmost · back · aftermost · closing

final

ending

Final portion of something

concludingBringing to an end
closingFinal stage of something
terminalAt the endpoint

finishing · endmost · hindmost · rearmost · tail-end · trailing · caboose · omega · finis · curtain

endure

persist

Continue firmly onward

surviveContinue to exist
continueGo on without stopping
holdMaintain in grasp

remain · stay · abide · carry-on · keep · sustain · withstand · outlive · persevere · stick

shoemaking

cobbler

Shoe repair artisan

footwearGarments for feet
moldForm-giving container
formShape or document

sole · heel · boot · shoe · leather · awl · bench · custom · bespoke · repair

previous

prior

Existing before another

precedingComing before in order
formerPreviously holding a position
pastTime already gone

recent · yesterday · earlier · before · antecedent · foregoing · erstwhile · bygone · late · onetime

Categories

Early Mathcounting, numbers, addition, subtraction, zero
Basic English Wordswho, what, when, where, why
sequencesequence, first, second, third, fourth
time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
word ladder wordshead, tail, lead, gold, cold
orderingalphabetical, numerical, chronological, ranking, sorting

Opposites

sequence position

Position number one

initial · opening · beginning · earliest · original

duration/persistence

lastend

Final portion or cessation

stop · cease · expire · fail · perish

rank or importance

Position number one

foremost · superior · premier · leading · eminent

Phrases

last yearThe prior annual cycle
last nightThe preceding evening
last weekPrevious seven-day period
last nameHereditary family identifier
last minuteJust before deadline
last chanceUltimate remaining opportunity

Family

lasting, everlasting, lasts, lastly, lasted, outlast, outlasted, lastingly, lastingness

Familiarity: Top 2,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G