until the very last moment

USAGE SUMMARY

'until the very last moment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a variety of situations to indicate that something continued until the very end. Here is an example sentence: We worked on the project until the very last moment, but still didn't finish in time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we're guessing this at least guarantees a timely arrival: last year, Beyonce left press and fans waiting until the very last moment and made a dramatic late entrance.

HuffPost

Until the very last moment, she believed that Mr. Obama would go along.

The New York Times

He also held firm for his original demands until the very last moment.

The Economist

Until the very last moment, those people could change their minds.

The Washington Post

The Riviera scene is withheld from the train passenger until the very last moment.

The New York Times

"It was in the balance until the very last moment," he said.

The Guardian

He was tweaking the film right up until the very last moment.

The Guardian - Music

Not that you can necessarily tell, until the very last moment, which is which.

The New York Times

Don't be surprised if the government goes on "considering its position" until the very last moment and a bit beyond.

The Economist

They emphasized their reluctance in choosing this course and spoke of waiting until the very last moment.

The New York Times

Not until the very last moment do they snap into a completed puzzle that's as tight as a steel trap.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until the very last moment" to convey a sense of urgency or persistence. It emphasizes that an action, belief, or state continued as long as humanly or practically possible. This can add drama or highlight dedication.

Common error

Avoid substituting 'at' for 'until' in this phrase. 'At the very last moment' changes the meaning to a specific point in time, rather than a duration leading up to that point. Use "until the very last moment" to indicate continuation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until the very last moment" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action occurred or a state persisted. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes that something continued for the maximum duration possible.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until the very last moment" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to emphasize the duration of an action or state up to its absolute end. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is adverbial, often adding a sense of urgency or dedication. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid substituting "at" for "until" to maintain its meaning. With its prevalence in news and media, this phrase remains a valuable tool for clear and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to the final second

Focuses on the immediacy and brevity of the last instant.

right up to the deadline

Emphasizes the temporal boundary and the point of cessation.

until the eleventh hour

An idiomatic expression denoting the last possible opportunity.

down to the wire

Highlights the tension and closeness to the end.

until the bitter end

Implies a negative or difficult situation continuing to its conclusion.

until the end of the line

Suggests reaching the ultimate limit or boundary.

to the last extremity

Focuses on the ultimate degree or limit of something.

to the last gasp

Emphasizes the very final moment of life or effort.

till the cows come home

Informal way to say for a very long time or indefinitely, but in this case, the focus is on the concluding moment

until kingdom come

Emphasizes a very distant or indefinite point in the future, but implying the activity carries on until that endpoint.

FAQs

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

Use "until the very last moment" to describe an action or state that persists as long as possible. For example, "We waited "until the very last moment" to submit our application hoping for new information".

What phrases are similar to "until the very last moment"?

Alternatives include "up to the final second", "right up to the deadline", or "until the eleventh hour" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "until the very last moment" or "until the last moment"?

"Until the very last moment" emphasizes the extreme lateness or finality of the action. While "until the last moment" is also correct, the addition of "very" adds intensity.

What's the difference between "until the very last moment" and "at the last moment"?

"Until the very last moment" implies a duration leading up to the end, whereas "at the last moment" refers to a specific point in time right before something concludes. For example, "We debated "until the very last moment"" versus "We decided "at the last moment"".