last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.
last page of a book
last news we had of him
final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.
final day of school
terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.
terminal phase of a disease
ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.
the ultimate collapse of the system
Examples of last in a Sentence
Verb (1)
we were lucky that the batteries lasted until we could get to the store to buy more
this heavy drought has lasted all summer Adjective
He was the last one out of the building.
She succeeded on her last attempt.
These are the last two books in the series.
We are going to the beach for the last week of the summer.
the last cookie in the jar
She said she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth.
He was tragically killed during the last days of the war.
I haven't seen her recently. The last time we met was at a party. Adverb
He spoke last at the meeting.
My horse was last in the race.
She was first to arrive at the party and last to leave.
I last saw him in the supermarket.
They last went to the beach in June.
This word was last used in the 17th century.
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Verb
But the lead quickly expanded in the second half, thanks to a 15-0 run by Charlotte, which lasted nearly three minutes and was capped off by Allen’s three-pointer.—Charlotte Observer,
25 Oct. 2026 Introduced in 2014, the award is the festival’s top honor and recognizes lasting contributions to Asian cinema.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t quite defeated at his press conference last Monday after the 23-13 loss to Green Bay, but the head coach realized how low the morale was around the building.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Oct. 2026 Reeves gave herself last year a headroom — the buffer available before the government would breach its fiscal rules — of £24 billion ($32 billion).—
Ian King,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Noel’s mother charged with capital murder Noel, who had physical and intellectual disabilities, was last seen alive in October 2022, but was not reported missing until March 2023.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Oct. 2026 The school announced the decision less than a day after the Wolfpack fell to 3-4 by losing on the road against a Stanford team picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference.—ABC News,
24 Oct. 2026
Noun
Fortune‘s earlier look at how long $1 million lasts in every state found a similar pattern, with the money running out in about 12 years in Hawaii.—
Bilin Lin,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2026 Part of the reason the ThinkPad T14 Gen 7's battery lasts so long, though, is its dim screen.—
Marshall Honorof,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English lǣstan to last, follow; akin to Old English lāst footprint
Adverb
Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt late
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; akin to Old High German leist shoemaker's last, Latin lira furrow — more at learn