at the very last moment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the very last moment" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means the latest possible time before something happens or before a deadline. Example: She submitted her essay at the very last moment, just minutes before the deadline.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

AT THE very last moment, and just before his 50th birthday this week, Barack Obama got the deal that raised the debt ceiling by between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion and so prevented the United States from going into default on his watch.

The Economist

It should be added at the very last moment.

The New York Times - Magazine

Radford boarded the Denver-Washington flight at the very last moment.

The New Yorker

"My concern is that they will get the religion at the very last moment," he said.

The New York Times

He often finds something at the very last moment and rewrites it".

The Guardian - Books

"It's always tension, tension that is solved at the very last moment".

The New York Times

At the very last moment, with racing equipment already air-freighted out to the desert, the race was cancelled.

The Economist

At the very last moment, he hand-delivered reels of the $15m feature, the festival's most eagerly anticipated movie.

The Guardian - Film

My colleague Steven Morris says that Hain predicted that the election would be decided at the very last moment.

The Guardian

Betsey, bonkers for La Tupina chicken, stuffed with mushrooms and sausage meat, switched at the very last moment.

The New York Times - Food

"Then they want everybody to help them at the very last moment, and that's what we cannot do".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the very last moment" to convey a sense of urgency or near failure. It's effective when you want to emphasize that something happened just before it was too late.

Common error

While acceptable, "at the very last moment" can sound less professional in formal contexts. Opt for alternatives like "immediately before the deadline" or "at the final opportunity" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the very last moment" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to specify when an action occurs. It indicates that something happens immediately before a deadline or critical point. Ludwig examples confirm this adverbial usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the very last moment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that highlights the timing of an event, specifically that it occurred just before a deadline or critical point. According to Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English. While its register is generally neutral, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the desired tone and explore alternatives like "at the eleventh hour" or "just in the nick of time" for stylistic variation. Be mindful of overusing it in formal writing where more sophisticated phrasing may be preferred. With its numerous examples, Ludwig confirms the phrase's versatility and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the eleventh hour

Replaces "last moment" with a more idiomatic expression, implying a sense of urgency and potential crisis.

just in the nick of time

Emphasizes the narrowness of the escape or success; more colloquial.

at the last possible second

Highlights the temporal aspect, making it more precise.

right before the deadline

Directly refers to a specific deadline, making it suitable for formal contexts.

at the death

A more dramatic and literary way of saying "at the very last moment", especially used in sports or competitive contexts.

in the waning moments

Evokes a sense of diminishing time and impending conclusion.

with no time to spare

Focuses on the lack of available time, emphasizing the pressure.

at the final juncture

More formal and emphasizes a critical decision point.

barely in time

Stresses the minimal amount of time available.

at the tail end

Suggests the very end of a process or period.

FAQs

What does "at the very last moment" mean?

It means something happened right before a deadline or cutoff point, often implying a sense of urgency or that there was barely enough time.

Is it correct to say "at the very last minute" instead of "at the very last moment"?

Yes, "at the very last minute" is a very similar and often interchangeable phrase. Both convey the idea of something happening just before it's too late.

How can I use "at the very last moment" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe actions completed right before a deadline. For example, "She submitted her application at the very last moment."

What are some alternatives to saying "at the very last moment"?

Consider using phrases like "at the eleventh hour", "just in the nick of time", or "right before the deadline" depending on the context.