being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others
the last horse in the race
2.
being or occurring just before the present; most recent
last Thursday
3. last but not least
4. last but one
5.
only remaining
one's last cigarette
6.
most extreme; utmost
7.
least suitable, appropriate, or likely
he was the last person I would have chosen
8. (esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)
a.
final or ultimate
last rites
b.
(capital)
the Last Judgment
9. (postpositive) Liverpool dialect
inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible
this ale is last
adverb
10.
after all others; at or in the end
he came last
11.
a.
most recently
he was last seen in the mountains
b.
(in combination)
last-mentioned
12. (sentence modifier)
as the last or latest item
noun
13. the last
14.
one's last moments before death
15.
the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last)
16.
the final appearance, mention, or occurrence
we've seen the last of him
17. at last
18. at long last
▶ USAGE Since last can mean either after all others or most recent, it is better to avoid using this word where ambiguity might arise as in her last novel. Final or latest should be used in such contexts to avoid ambiguity
Word origin
variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late