last friday

USAGE SUMMARY

"last Friday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the Friday that has just passed. For example: "I saw my friends last Friday and we had a great time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But last Friday still lingers.

The New York Times

They released him last Friday.

The New York Times - Sports

It was last Friday.

Yale University

Last Friday, ManTech was that organization.

The New York Times - Tech

He was still there last Friday.

The New York Times

It received its first guest last Friday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was last Monday.

The New York Times

Wore it last Thursday.

The New York Times

Last Thursday, the N.Y.

The New Yorker

Last Thursday (Mar.

The New Yorker

Last Sunday morning, Lord, Lord, Lord.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "last friday" when referring to a specific Friday in the past, within the last seven days. Ensure clarity by providing additional context if referring to a Friday further in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "last friday" when referring to a Friday in the distant past. Instead, specify the date (e.g., "on Friday, July 7, 2023") to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last friday" functions as a temporal specifier, indicating a specific point in time relative to the present. Ludwig AI confirms it’s grammatically correct. It modifies a verb or clause to provide information about when an action occurred or will occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last friday" is a common and grammatically correct temporal phrase used to refer to the Friday immediately preceding the current day. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is generally accepted and usable in written English. As shown by Ludwig examples, it is frequently used in news and media, academic contexts and science to anchor events in time. When writing, ensure clarity by using "last friday" when referring to a Friday within the last seven days, and consider using more specific dates for Fridays further in the past. Alternative phrases such as "the previous friday" or "the friday before" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous friday

Synonymous replacement, using 'previous' instead of 'last'.

the friday just passed

Emphasizes the recency of the event.

the friday before

Replaces "last" with a more descriptive term, emphasizing sequence.

a week ago friday

Specifies the time frame more precisely.

on friday of last week

A slightly more formal and descriptive alternative.

friday gone by

More informal phrasing, implies a past Friday.

the friday a week prior

A more formal way of specifying the Friday of the week before.

friday of the week before

Offers a descriptive way to define the temporal placement.

friday last

A slightly archaic or poetic way to say 'last friday'.

that friday

Context dependent, 'that' refers to previously mentioned Friday.

FAQs

How do I use "last friday" in a sentence?

"Last friday" is used to refer to the Friday immediately preceding the current day. For example, "I went to the store last friday" indicates that you visited the store on the Friday of the previous week.

What can I say instead of "last friday"?

You can use alternatives like "the previous friday", "the friday before", or "a week ago friday" to express the same meaning.

Is it correct to say "the last friday" instead of "last friday"?

While "last friday" is the more common and natural phrasing, "the last friday" might be used in contexts where you are emphasizing that it was the final Friday in a series or period. However, "last friday" is generally preferred for typical use.

How does "last friday" differ from "this friday"?

"Last friday" refers to the Friday that has already occurred in the previous week, whereas "this friday" refers to the upcoming Friday in the current week. For example, "I went to the park last friday" versus "I will go to the park this friday".