Last vs. The Last — What's the Difference?

Coming after all others in time or order.

Marks the end of a possibility or option.

Most recent in time.

Highlights a particular instance of finality.

Final in a series.

Specifies a unique or significant final item or event.

Being, coming, or placed after all others; final

Emphasizes the end of an era or period.

Being the only one left

Indicates something no longer available after this point.

Just past; most recent

Most up-to-date; newest

Highest in extent or degree; utmost

Most valid, authoritative, or conclusive

Least likely or expected

The least desirable or suitable

Being the latest possible

Lowest in rank or importance

Used as an intensive

Of or relating to a terminal period or stage, as of life

Administered just before death

After all others in chronology or sequence

Most recently

At the end; finally

One that is at the end or last

The end

The final mention or appearance

A block or form shaped like a human foot and used in making or repairing shoes.

A unit of volume or weight varying for different commodities and in different districts, equal to about 80 bushels, 640 gallons, or 2 tons.

To continue in time; go on

To continue; survive

To remain in good or usable condition

To continue in force or practice

To remain in adequate supply

To keep adequately supplied

To persist or endure for the entire length of; survive

To mold or shape on a last.

Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.

Most recent, latest, last so far.

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.

Being the only one remaining of its class.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Lowest in rank or degree.

The (one) immediately before the present.

(of days of the week or months of the year) Closest in the past, or closest but one if the closest was very recent; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) ago, or the most recent instance before seven days (one week) ago.

Most recently.

(sequence) after everything else; finally

To perform, carry out.

(intransitive) To endure, continue over time.

(intransitive) To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.

To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last.

A tool for shaping or preserving the shape of shoes.

(obsolete) A burden; load; a cargo; freight.

(obsolete) A measure of weight or quantity, varying in designation depending on the goods concerned.

(obsolete) An old English (and Dutch) measure of the carrying capacity of a ship, equal to two tons.

A load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value.

Of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth.

Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.

Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Lowest in rank or degree; as, the a last place finish.

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

In conclusion; finally; lastly.

At a time next preceding the present time.

To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.

A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

The burden of a ship; a cargo.

The temporal end; the concluding time;

The last or lowest in an ordering or series;

A person's dying act; the last thing a person can do;

The time at which life ends; continuing until dead;

A unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds

A unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels

The concluding parts of an event or occurrence;

Holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes

Persist or be long; in time;

Continue to live; endure or last;

Immediately past;

Coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining;

Occurring at or forming an end or termination;

Conclusive in a process or progression;

Most unlikely or unsuitable;

Occurring at the time of death;

Not to be altered or undone;

Lowest in rank or importance;

Highest in extent or degree;

In accord with the most fashionable ideas or style;

More recently than any other time;

The item at the end;

Remaining after others are gone or used.

Enduring beyond others.

Not always; it can refer to order, time, or significance.

Yes, "last" can be used without "the" when not emphasizing a specific instance.

Often, it suggests a finality or an end to a series or possibility.

It can be used for both, depending on the context.

Yes, as in "the last one standing."

It can be an adjective ("the last person"), an adverb ("arrived last"), or a noun ("the last of the wine").

Conceptually no, but multiple things can be "last" if occurring simultaneously.

Yes, in contexts like "This product lasts longer."

They can, but "the last" is more specific, often forming a noun phrase.

Not always, as "the last" adds specificity and emphasis not present with "last" alone.

No, it can refer to time periods, events, people, or objects.

Primarily, but it can imply continuity into the present, as in durability.

Consider whether you need to emphasize a specific final instance or are simply stating an order or time.

It can, by highlighting its significance or finality.

It can, especially in planning or forecasting, as in "the last time we'll offer this sale."