INDEX:
coming at the end
1. coming at the end after all others
2. to be the last one in a line, group, race etc
3. the one just before the last one
4. what you say to introduce the last thing in a speech etc
last for a period of time
5. to continue for a particular period of time
6. to stay in good condition for a particular period of time
7. when a supply of something continues to be enough
RELATED WORDS
last week/year etc : ↑ BEFORE
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1. coming at the end after all others
▷ last /lɑːstǁlæst/ [adjective only before noun]
happening or coming at the end, with no others after :
▪ What time does the last train leave?
▪ Could you repeat the last number for me please?
▪ I really struggled on that last question.
▪ Don’t miss the last episode tonight at 8.00 p.m.
▪ I may as well eat that last little piece.
very last
use this to emphasize that something is last
▪ The very last train leaves at 1.00 a.m.
the last time
▪ That was the last time I ever saw her. I never saw her again
last chance
▪ Today is your last chance to visit the fashion show, which ends this evening.
the last
▪ That lecture was the last in the series.
last [adverb]
▪ The teacher called out my name last.
leave something till last
do something after you have done everything else
▪ I do all our dishes, and leave the dog’s dish till last.
keep/save something for last
use, eat etc something after you have used, eaten etc everything else
▪ I’m saving that chocolate for last.
▷ final /ˈfaɪnl/ [adjective only before noun]
last in a series of actions, events, parts of a story etc :
▪ Are you going to watch the final episode of ‘The X-Files’ tomorrow night?
▪ He got as far as the final interviews, but he didn’t get the job unfortunately.
▪ I’d like to make one final point before we move on to another subject.
final stages/moments/minutes
at or near the end of a period or process
▪ The president appears tired but hopeful as the final stages of the negotiations begin today.
▪ Whitney made both free throws in the final minute of the game.
final game/round/match etc
▪ A victory over Fresno State in the final game Saturday would produce a record run of wins.
▪ The two men were tied for the lead going into today’s final round of the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament.
finally [adverb]
▪ The ulcer continued to spread, and the doctors finally had to amputate.
and finally
▪ The cruise took them to Spain, Italy, Greece and finally Morocco, where they caught their flight home.
▷ closing /ˈkləʊzɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
the closing part of an event or period of time is the last part of it - use this especially when something important or exciting happens :
the closing stages/chapter/sentence etc
▪ Marcos is expected to address the closing session of the conference later Monday.
▪ The rider from the Netherlands is still in the lead as the Tour de France enters its closing stage today.
▪ The closing scene of ‘Casablanca’ is one of the great moments of film history.
closing seconds/minutes/years etc
▪ Barnes scored the winning goal in the closing seconds of the game.
▪ the closing years of the 20th century
closing argument
the final speech made by a lawyer in a court
▪ After the defense finishes its closing argument, the prosecution will have the opportunity to reply.
▷ concluding /kənˈkluːdɪŋ/ [adjective]
the concluding part of a piece of writing, a speech, or an organized event is the last part of it, which finishes it in the way that was planned :
concluding stages/chapter/remarks etc
▪ We will return to these points in the concluding chapter.
▪ In his concluding remarks, Santos drew attention to the issues facing developing countries.
▪ The Appeal court will, at the concluding stage, test its own opinions against those of the judges in the original hearing.
▷ the latter /ðə ˈlætəʳ/ [singular noun] formal
the second of two things or people that are being compared with each other :
▪ Opportunities for men and women, though especially the latter, are limited to employment in agriculture or domestic service.
▪ There were two candidates for the presidency, Lyndon B Johnson and Senator Barry Goldwater. The latter was known to hold extreme right-wing views.
latter [adjective only before noun]
▪ The classes consist of immigrants, and students who will return to their home countries at the end of the course. The latter group are preparing for the Cambridge Proficiency Certificate.
2. to be the last one in a line, group, race etc
▷ be last /biː ˈlɑːstǁ-ˈlæst/ [verb phrase]
▪ There’s no point in trying, because I know I’m going to be last.
▪ We were last in a very long queue, so I knew we’d have a long wait.
be (the) last to do something
▪ Sally was last to arrive.
▪ His plane was always the first to take off, and the last to land.
be last in line
be the last person to have something, especially when this seems unfair
▪ I was the youngest in a family of four, so I was always last in line for clothes and toys.
▪ Let’s just say I don’t want to be last in line for promotion.
▷ come in last/finish last also come last British /ˌkʌm ɪn ˈlɑːst, ˌfɪnɪʃ ˈlɑːst, ˌkʌm ˈlɑːstǁ-ˈlæst/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to finish a race or competition in the last position :
▪ Our school always comes in last in the regional competition.
▪ Bakatin came last with just 3.4% of the vote.
▪ Despite finishing last of six, he was only beaten by two lengths.
▷ bring up the rear /ˌbrɪŋ ʌp ðə ˈrɪəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to be last in a line or group of people, cars, ships etc that is moving forward :
▪ We all followed our guide up the path, Marcus and I bringing up the rear.
▪ The funeral hearse was followed by cars full of friends, and a company of Life Guards brought up the rear.
▷ straggler /ˈstræg ə ləʳ/ [countable noun]
a person who is too slow to keep the same speed as the rest of the group they are with, so that they move along some distance behind :
▪ A few stragglers got lost in the fog.
▪ After three and a half hours, the stragglers were still coming through.
3. the one just before the last one
▷ next to last/second to last /ˌnekst tə ˈlɑːst, ˌsekənd tə ˈlɑːstǁ-ˈlæst/ [adjective phrase only before noun]
coming just before the last one in a series, list, line etc :
▪ I’ve nearly finished this test. I’m on the next to last question.
▪ ‘How much have you read?’ ‘I’m on the second to last chapter.’
▪ It wasn’t until the next to last day of the vacation that she dared to go to the beach.
▷ the last but one /ðə ˌlɑːst bət ˈwʌnǁ-ˌlæst-/ [] British
the one just before the last one :
▪ She had several husbands. Garry Burton, the last but one, was a real alcoholic.
▪ He and his family escaped on the last but one ship to leave Hamburg.
▪ There’s a long row of houses and I live in the last but one.
▷ penultimate /pɪˈnʌltɪmət, pɪˈnʌltəmət/ [adjective only before noun] especially British, formal
coming just before the last one :
▪ We booked a moped for the penultimate day of the holiday.
▪ Particularly impressive is the horn section on the penultimate track, ‘Just Jivin’ Around'.
penultimate stage/step
▪ These trials are actually the penultimate step toward choosing the Olympic team for this summer’s games.
penultimate game/round/lap etc
▪ Eric scored a timely win in the penultimate round of the Formula 1 championship.
▪ His horse slipped and fell at the penultimate fence.
4. what you say to introduce the last thing in a speech etc
▷ finally /ˈfaɪn ə l-i/ [adverb]
use this when something is the last thing you want to say, especially at the end of a long speech or piece of writing :
▪ Finally, I’d like to thank all those people who helped make the conference such a success.
▪ And finally, don’t miss Albuquerque’s amazing punk band, playing tonight at the Lunar Club.
▷ lastly /ˈlɑːstliǁˈlæst-/ [adverb]
use this to say that something is the last of a list of things, or when something is the last thing you want to say :
▪ Now lastly, before you all leave, I want to mention some tips for the interview stage.
▪ And lastly, Delia, do you see the movement towards more and more computerization continuing in the future?
▪ Firstly it’s too big, secondly we can’t afford it, and lastly we don’t really need it.
▷ last but not least /ˌlɑːst bət nɒt ˈliːstǁˌlæst-/ [adverb]
use this when you are mentioning the last person or thing in a list, to emphasize that they are just as important as all the others :
▪ Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
▪ And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
last but certainly not/by no means least
▪ Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
5. to continue for a particular period of time
▷ last /lɑːstǁlæst/ [intransitive verb]
use this to say how long something continues :
▪ Mexico achieved a remarkable 8% annual growth rate, but the new prosperity did not last.
▪ Ours was a happy marriage, but I always feared it wouldn’t last.
last 2 hours/6 months/a long time etc
▪ The whole opera lasts about four hours.
▪ The earthquake lasted 30 seconds and caused 12,000 casualties.
▪ The silence in the room seemed to last a very long time before she spoke.
▪ rainstorms lasting all night long
▪ Each consultation can last between 10 minutes and half an hour.
last for 2 hours/a long time/years etc
▪ The performance is expected to last for approximately 3 hours.
▪ The effects of Josie’s experience could last for years, doctors say.
last from/until etc
▪ The talks lasted until the early hours of the morning.
▪ The drug produces a powerful cocaine-type high that lasts for days.
▪ The Sung dynasty lasted from 960 to 1278.
last into the 19th century/1980s/next decade etc
▪ This phase of the educational campaign lasted into the 1960s.
last long
▪ Analysts are confident the downturn in share prices will not last long.
▪ It’s the worst cold I’ve ever had, but luckily it didn’t last very long.
last forever
▪ I wanted the weekend to last forever.
last as long as
▪ The pilots say the walkout could last as long as two months.
long-lasting /ˌlɒŋ ˈlɑːstɪŋ◂ǁˌlɔːŋ ˈlæs-/ [adjective]
▪ the profound and long-lasting consequences of the war
▷ take /teɪk/ [transitive verb]
use this when you want to say how much time is needed to do something or for something to happen :
take 2 hours/6 months etc
▪ The bridge was closed, so the journey took much longer than usual.
▪ Can you give me an idea how long this is going to take?
▪ It took two years for Eddie to learn how to walk again.
take 2 hours/6 months etc to do
▪ The software will take a few minutes to load.
▪ They’re just fun books, they don’t take very long to read.
take somebody 2 hours/6 months etc to do
▪ Doing the painting alone will take him all day.
it takes (somebody) 2 hours/six months etc to do something
▪ It takes me about half an hour to get ready in the mornings.
▪ It didn’t take Susie long to find out what was going on between us.
▪ It took three and a half hours to come back from Swansea.
▷ go on for /ˌgəʊ ˈɒn fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if something, especially something boring or unpleasant, goes on for a particular period of time, that is how long it lasts :
▪ The chairman’s speech went on for what seemed like hours.
▪ It sounds like the sort of meeting that could go on forever.
▪ It starts at seven, but I don’t know how long it goes on for.
▪ It was a big lawsuit, and it went on for quite a while.
▷ drag on /ˌdræg ˈɒn/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
use this about something that seems to continue for a long time :
▪ The siege dragged on into its second month.
drag on for
▪ I can’t afford to let the case drag on for months.
▷ run /rʌn/ [intransitive verb]
if a play, show, event etc runs for a particular period of time, it continues to be shown or performed for that period of time :
▪ The Ideal Homes exhibition will run until 6 p.m. each day over the weekend.
run for
▪ The play ran for two months on Broadway.
▪ The media campaign features four commercials that will run for eight weeks.
▪ One of the top sit-coms was ‘On the Buses’, which ran for sixty episodes
run and run
British used in newspapers, magazines etc to say that a play, show etc will be very successful and will be performed for a long time
▪ This is one that will, I believe, run and run.
run [countable noun usually singular]
▪ The show moves to London’s West End after a month’s run in Leicester’s Gala Theatre.
longest-running /ˌlɒŋgɪst ˈrʌnɪŋ◂ , ˌlɒŋgəst ˈrʌnɪŋ◂ ǁˌlɔːŋ-/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ Britain’s longest-running chart show, Top of the Pops, looks set to close.
▷ extend over /ɪkˈstend əʊvəʳ/ [verb phrase]
if a process, activity, event etc extends over a long period of time, it continues for that period of time :
▪ We had a marathon recording session extending over eighteen hours.
▪ If the investigation is a sustained piece of work extending over a period of weeks, a diary will help to track events.
6. to stay in good condition for a particular period of time
▷ last /lɑːstǁlæst/ [intransitive verb]
use this about clothes, equipment, furniture etc to say how long they will remain in good condition :
▪ Cheap saucepans can’t really be expected to last.
▪ It’s amazing how long this car has lasted, really.
▪ You can get washable plastic lace by the yard, which lasts much better than the real thing.
last (for) 7 years/2 months/a long time etc
▪ Some wine-makers will tell you that a cask lasts only for four years.
▪ When the houses were put up in 1946, they really weren’t meant to last more than ten years.
last (somebody) a lifetime
last a very long time
▪ With care, a mahogany dining table will last you a lifetime.
▪ Well-made golf clubs ought to last a lifetime, so it’s worth paying the extra.
▷ keep /kiːp/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
use this about food or drink to say how long it will remain fresh :
▪ You’d better eat these cakes today -- they won’t keep.
keep for 2 days/24 hours etc
▪ The yoghurt will keep for about a week in a refrigerator.
keep until/till
▪ Do you think this bacon will keep till tomorrow?
keep well
▪ Eat celery as soon as possible -- it does not keep well for long periods.
▷ stay fresh /ˌsteɪ ˈfreʃ/ [verb phrase]
use this about food or about flowers that have been cut :
▪ Homemade bread never stays as fresh as the stuff you buy in the supermarket.
stay fresh for 2 weeks/2 days/a long time etc
▪ Strain the stock and put in a sealed container. It should stay fresh for up to three days.
▪ Bend the stems, as this will make the blooms stay fresh for longer.
7. when a supply of something continues to be enough
▷ last /lɑːstǁlæst/ [intransitive verb]
if a supply of something lasts for a particular period of time, there continues to be enough of it for someone to use until the end of that period :
last (somebody) two weeks/three days etc
▪ He knew they only had enough food to last another three days.
▪ $400 won’t last you long in Chicago.
▷ make something last /ˌmeɪk something ˈlɑːstǁ-ˈlæst/ [verb phrase]
to use a supply of something carefully so that it is not all used quickly :
▪ I sent my sister $500, with some advice on how to make it last.
make something last longer/a long time etc
▪ You can add ice or additional mixer to alcoholic drinks make them last longer.
▪ One group delayed spending the grant in order to make its funds last as long as possible.
▪ She only had a small amount of food left, and knew she’d have to make it last the week.
▷ eke out /ˌiːk ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to make a small amount of something such as food or money last longer, by carefully using only very small amounts of it -- used especially in literature :
eke out something
▪ Dealers are mixing the drug with heroin and cocaine to eke out their supplies.
▪ She lived on a shoestring during these years, eking out the pennies as best she could.
eke something out
▪ I’m not ashamed to eke food out.