at the last

USAGE SUMMARY

"at the last" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific event or situation that happened or occurred at the end of a timeline or series of events. For example, "At the last meeting, the board of directors approved the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

At the last stop?

The New Yorker

At the last moment Mme.

The New Yorker

At the last M. & S.

The New Yorker

As showed at the last World Cup".

Independent

Look for sales at the last minute.

The New York Times - Travel

We looked at the last named.

Independent

And dropped at the last minute.

The New York Times

Will she cancel at the last minute?

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Or at the last two Olympics.

Los Angeles Times

Just look at the last two incumbents.

Vice

Use factoring to guess at the Last terms.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the idiom "at the last minute", avoid adding unnecessary adjectives unless you want to emphasize extreme lateness (e.g., "at the very last minute").

Common error

Avoid using "at the last" when you mean "at last". Use "at the last" to refer to a specific terminal point in a series (e.g., "at the last meeting"), whereas "at last" is used to signal that something has finally happened after a long wait.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the last" serves as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a verb to indicate a specific position at the end of a sequence or timeline. Ludwig AI notes its frequent use in identifying terminal iterations, such as stops, minutes, or elections.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The prepositional phrase "at the last" is a robust and grammatically sound tool for English writers. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it is used most effectively when pinpointing the final element of a sequence, whether that be a physical location ("at the last stop") or a moment in time ("at the last minute"). Because it appears frequently in highly authoritative sources like The New Yorker and The Guardian, it carries a high level of prestige and clarity. Writers should be careful to distinguish it from the adverbial phrase "at last", which conveys a sense of eventual occurrence or relief. Overall, using "at the last" provides necessary precision in both narrative and analytical writing, ensuring the reader understands exactly where a sequence concludes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the final

Shifts the tone to a more formal or definitive context, often used in sports or formal proceedings.

at the very last

Adds emphasis to the absolute finality of the point being discussed.

during the most recent

Specifies a point in time that occurred just before the present, rather than the end of a long series.

at the conclusion

A more formal and academic way to describe the end of an event or section.

at the latest

Refers to the most recent occurrence or sets a deadline, rather than a sequence point.

in the closing

Focuses on the duration or process of ending rather than a specific point.

at the tail end

A more idiomatic and informal way to describe the very end of something.

at the terminal

A technical or scientific way to describe the final point in a physical or logical sequence.

in the end

An adverbial phrase referring to the final outcome rather than a specific item in a list.

at last

An adverbial phrase meaning 'finally', often used to express relief.

FAQs

How do I use "at the last" in a sentence?

You use it to specify a terminal point in a sequence. For example, you can say, "The decision was made "at the last minute"" or "We checked the data collected "at the last session"".

What is the difference between "at the last" and "at the final"?

While often interchangeable, "at the final" is frequently more formal or used specifically in competitive contexts (like sports finals), whereas "at the last" is more common in everyday news and conversation.

Is it correct to say "at the last" or "at the latest"?

It depends on your meaning. Use "at the last" for sequence (the end of a series) and "at the latest" for deadlines (e.g., "Return this by Friday at the latest").

Can I replace "at the last" with "finally"?

No, they have different grammatical functions. "Finally" is an adverb, while "at the last" is a prepositional phrase. Instead of "at the last", you might use "at the conclusion" to keep a similar structural role.