(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
In a series of events, things, or people, the ~ one is the last one.
Astronauts will make a ~ attempt today to rescue a communications satellite from its useless orbit...
This is the fifth and probably ~ day of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee...
On the last Saturday in September, I received a ~ letter from Clive.
= last
ADJ: det ADJ
2.
Final means happening at the end of an event or series of events.
The countdown to the Notting Hill Carnival is in its ~ hours.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
If a decision or someone’s authority is ~, it cannot be changed or questioned.
The judges’ decision is ~...
The White House has the ~ say...
ADJ
4.
The ~ is the last game or contest in a series and decides who is the winner.
...the Scottish Cup Final...
N-COUNT
see also quarter-~ , semi-~
5.
The ~s of a sporting tournament consist of a smaller tournament that includes only players or teams that have won earlier games. The ~s decide the winner of the whole tournament.
Poland know they have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup Finals.
N-PLURAL
6.
When a student takes his or her ~s, he or she takes the last and most important examinations in a university or college course.
Anna sat her ~s in the summer.
N-PLURAL: oft poss N