finished last

USAGE SUMMARY

"finished last" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that came last in a race or competition, like this example sentence: "My team finished last in the race."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

They also finished last in 2015 and first this season….

Los Angeles Times

The last time the Mets finished last was in 1993.

The New York Times - Sports

Ireland sang last and finished last in Malmo 2013.

BBC

At the last Olympics, in London, India finished last.

The New Yorker

She finished last with a time of 13.28 seconds.

Wikipedia

He finished last in his first skateboard event of 2006.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

They finished last year dead last in their division.

The Guardian - Sport

His term finished last year.

The Economist

Loan in hand, construction was finished last year.

The New York Times - Food

The album was finished last May.

The New Yorker

The course was finished last summer.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "finished last", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or competition is being referred to. For instance, specify "finished last in the race" instead of simply stating "finished last".

Common error

Avoid using "finished last" when you actually mean to describe a process that was completed recently, but not necessarily in a concluding or final position. For instance, "The project was finished last week" is about completion, not ranking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished last" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating the final position or outcome of a subject in a competition, race, or other ranked event. This function aligns with Ludwig's examples, which demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "finished last" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the lowest-ranking position in a competition or event. Ludwig confirms its wide applicability and neutral tone, making it suitable for diverse contexts ranging from news reports to casual discussions. While straightforward, it's essential to use it accurately, ensuring the context aligns with its meaning of concluding in the final spot. Alternatives like "came in last place" or "placed last" offer similar meanings, and understanding common errors, such as confusing completion with ranking, enhances its effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came in last place

Replaces "finished" with "came in", emphasizing the arrival at the final position.

placed last

Replaces "finished" with "placed", directly stating the final placement.

ended up at the bottom

Substitutes "finished last" with a phrase that highlights the end result of being at the lowest position.

took last position

Uses "took" instead of "finished", focusing on the act of assuming the final rank.

concluded in last spot

Emphasizes the conclusion of an event in the final spot.

brought up the rear

An idiomatic expression meaning to be at the very back or last.

wrapped up at the bottom

Uses "wrapped up" to denote the completion of an activity at the lowest level.

was the tail-ender

Another idiomatic term indicating the last position in a sequence.

occupied the lowest rank

Focuses on the state of holding the last position in a ranking.

failed to make the cut

Indicates not succeeding in advancing beyond a certain level, thus ending at the bottom.

FAQs

How can I use "finished last" in a sentence?

You can use "finished last" to describe the final position in a competition or ranking. For example, "Our team "finished last" in the tournament this year".

What's a less direct way to say "finished last"?

Instead of saying "finished last", consider using alternatives like "came in last place" or "ended up at the bottom" depending on the situation.

Is it always negative to say someone "finished last"?

While "finished last" often implies a negative outcome, it can also be a neutral statement of fact or even humorous, depending on the context. For instance, in a self-deprecating joke.

What is the difference between "placed last" and "finished last"?

"Placed last" and "finished last" are largely interchangeable. Both phrases indicate the final position in a competition. "Placed last" might be slightly more formal in certain contexts.