lasting

UK: /ˈlɑːstɪŋ/ US: /ˈlæstɪŋ/ ,(las′ting, lä′sting)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

last•ing /ˈlæstɪŋ/   adj. [before a noun]

1. enduring for a long time:
   our lasting friendship.

last•ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

last•ing  (las′ting, lä′sting), adj. 

1. continuing or enduring a long time;
   permanent;
   durable:
   a lasting friendship.

n. 

2. a strong, durable, closely woven fabric for shoe uppers, coverings on buttons, etc.
3. [Archaic.] the quality of surviving or continuing and maintaining strength, effectiveness, etc.

• 1125–75 for def. 1; 1775–85 for def. 2; Middle English (adjective, adjectival). See last², -ing²

last′ing•ly, adv. 
last′ing•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lasting / ˈlɑːstɪŋ/ adjective

1. permanent or enduring

ˈlastingly adverb

ˈlastingness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

last¹ /læst/   adj., [a superlative of] late with later as comparative.

1. being or occurring or coming after all others, with respect to time, order, rank, place, or importance:
   the last line on a page;
   the last person to get on stage;
   last in line.
2. most recent;
   next before the present;
   immediately before:
   [before a noun indicating time] I saw her last week.
3. being the only one remaining:
   [before a noun] It's my last dollar.
4. final:
   [before a noun] one's last hours.
5. ultimate or conclusive;
   definitive:
   [before a noun] in the last analysis.
6. least desirable or likely:
   [before a noun] He's the last person we'd want to represent us.
7. individual;
   single:
   [before a noun] Don't start until every last person is present.

adv. 

8. after all others in time, order, rank, etc.;
   latest:
   Do this last.
9. on the most recent occasion:
   He was alone when last seen.
10. in conclusion:
    Last, I want to thank my wife.

n. 

11. a person or thing that is last:
    [countable* singular: the + ~] drank the last of the brandy.
12. a final appearance or mention:
    [uncountable* the + ~] That's the last we'll hear of it.
13. the end or conclusion:
    [uncountable* the + ~] the last of September.

Idioms

14. Idioms at (long) last, after a lot of delay;
    finally:
    At long last we had finished the job.
15. Idioms breathe one's last, to die.
16. to the last, to the end:
    To the last he told everyone he was innocent.

Usage

When the word last is used before an expression of time, like week, month, year, etc., it is more usual not to use a preposition (such as in, on, or at), and not to include the article the:
We saw her last week/last month/last year.
The use of the word the with last refers to a period of time that continues up to the present time:
for the last week (= for the seven days up to now),
as opposed to
last week (= the week before this week).
The word last is also different from latest. Last can be used to refer to a thing before another:
He played great tennis in his last appearance at Wimbledon (= the time before now).
The last I heard, they were getting a divorce (= the last time I heard anything).
The word latest means "newest'':
He has been playing great tennis in his latest appearance at Wimbledon (= in his most recent, newest appearance at Wimbledon).
Here is the latest news — They are getting a divorce (= the latest or "newest'' news).

last² /læst/   v. [not: be + ~-ing]

1. to go on or continue in time:
   [no object] The festival lasted for three weeks.
2. to continue without running out;
   be enough:
   [no object] Enjoy it while the money lasts.
3. to continue or remain in usable condition:
   [no object] The car won't last if you don't take care of it.
4. to continue to survive for the time or duration of:
   [~ (+ out) + object] can't last (out) another day without food.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

last¹  (last, läst), adj. [a superl. of] late with later  as compar.

1. occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place:
   the last line on a page.
2. most recent;
   next before the present;
   latest:
   last week; last Friday.
3. being the only one remaining:
   my last dollar;
   the last outpost;
   a last chance.
4. final:
   in his last hours.
5. ultimate or conclusive;
   definitive:
   the last word in the argument.
6. lowest in prestige or importance:
   last prize.
7. coming after all others in suitability or likelihood;
   least desirable:
   He is the last person we'd want to represent us.
8. individual;
   single:
   The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.
9. utmost;
   extreme:
   the last degree of delight.
10. Religion [Eccles.] (of the sacraments of penance, viaticum, or extreme unction) extreme or final;
    administered to a person dying or in danger of dying.

adv. 

11. after all others;
    latest:
    He arrived last at the party.
12. on the most recent occasion:
    When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.
13. in the end;
    finally;
    in conclusion.

n. 

14. a person or thing that is last.
15. a final appearance or mention:
    We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.
16. the end or conclusion:
    We are going on vacation the last of September.
17. Idioms at last, after a lengthy pause or delay:
    He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.
18. Idioms at long last, after much troublesome or frustrating delay:
    The ship docked at long last.
19. Idioms breathe one's last, to die:
    He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.

• Middle English last, latst, syncopated variant of latest, Old English latest, lætest, superlative of læt, late bef. 900

Synonyms

• 1. Last, final, ultimate refer to what comes as an ending. That which is last comes or stands after all others in a stated series or succession; last may refer to objects or activities:
  a seat in the last row; the last game.
  That which is final comes at the end, or serves to end or terminate, admitting of nothing further; final is rarely used of objects:
  to make a final attempt.
  That which is ultimate (literally, most remote) is the last that can be reached, as in progression or regression, experience, or a course of investigation:
  ultimate truths.

last²  (last, läst), v.i. 

1. to go on or continue in time:
   The festival lasted three weeks.
2. to continue unexpended or unexhausted;
   be enough:
   We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.
3. to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.:
   to last for the whole course.
4. to continue or remain in usable condition for a reasonable period of time:
   They were handsome shoes but they didn't last.

v.t. 

5. to continue to survive for the duration of (often fol. by out):
   They lasted the war in Switzerland.

• bef. 900; Middle English lasten, Old English lǣstan to follow (literally, go in the tracks of ), perform, continue, last; cognate with German laisten to follow, Gothic laistjan. See last³

Synonyms

• 1. See continue. 

last³  (last, läst), n. 

1. a wooden or metal form in the shape of the human foot on which boots or shoes are shaped or repaired.
2. the shape or form of a shoe.
3. stick to one's last, to keep to that work, field, etc., in which one is competent or skilled.

v.t. 

4. to shape on or fit to a last.

• bef. 900; Middle English lest(e), last(e), Old English lǣste; cognate with German Leisten; akin to Old English lāst, Gothic laists track

last′er, n. 

last⁴  (last, läst), n. 

1. Weights and Measures any of various large units of weight or capacity, varying in amount in different localities and for different commodities, often equivalent to 4000 pounds (1814.37 kilograms).

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English hlæst; cognate with Dutch last, German Last load; akin to lade

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

last / lɑːst/ adjective (often prenominal)

1. 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. only remaining: one's last cigarette
4. most extreme; utmost
5. least suitable, appropriate, or likely: he was the last person I would have chosen
6. (esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world) final or ultimate: last rites

adverb

1. after all others; at or in the end: he came last
2. most recently: he was last seen in the mountains
3. (sentence modifier) as the last or latest item

noun

1. the last ⇒ a person or thing that is last
2. the final moment; end
3. one's last moments before death
4. the final appearance, mention, or occurrence: we've seen the last of him
5. at last ⇒ in the end; finally
6. at long last ⇒ finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

Etymology: variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of lateUSAGE
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

last / lɑːst/ verb

1. when intr, often followed by for: to remain in being (for a length of time); continue: his hatred lasted for several years
2. to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time): it will last us until Friday
3. when intr, often followed by for: to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration)

Etymology: Old English lǣstan; related to Gothic laistjan to follow

ˈlaster noun

last / lɑːst/ noun

the wooden or metal form on which a shoe or boot is fashioned or repaired

verb

1. (transitive) to fit (a shoe or boot) on a last

Etymology: Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists

ˈlaster noun