Final vs. Last — What's the Difference?

Relating to an end or conclusion.

Most recent in time or order.

Not to be altered or changed.

After all others in sequence or order.

Serving as the ultimate or decisive factor.

Of the most extreme or significant kind.

Representing the last in a sequence or series.

Continuing or enduring for an extended period.

Coming at the end of a series

A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes.

The last game in a sports tournament or other competition, which will decide the winner of the tournament.

Being, coming, or placed after all others; final

A series of examinations at the end of a degree course

Being the only one left

The principal note in a mode.

Just past; most recent

The final approach of an aircraft to the runway it will be landing on

Most up-to-date; newest

Forming or occurring at the end; last

Highest in extent or degree; utmost

Of or constituting the end result of a succession or process; ultimate

Most valid, authoritative, or conclusive

A final examination; a test or examination given at the end of a term or class; the test that concludes a class.

Least likely or expected

(Oxbridge slang) A final examination taken at the end of the final year of an undergraduate course, which contributes towards a student's degree classification.

The least desirable or suitable

(sports) The last round, game or match in a contest, after which the winner is determined.

Being the latest possible

(phonology) The final part of a syllable, the combination of medial and rime in phonetics and phonology.

Lowest in rank or importance

(music) The tonic or keynote of a Gregorian mode, and hence the final note of any conventional melody played in that mode.

Used as an intensive

Last; ultimate.

Of or relating to a terminal period or stage, as of life

Conclusive; decisive.

Administered just before death

Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view.

After all others in chronology or sequence

(grammar) Expressing purpose; as in the term final clause.

Most recently

(linguistics) Word-final, occurring at the end of a word.

At the end; finally

Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term.

One that is at the end or last

Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue.

The end

Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view.

The final mention or appearance

The final match between the winners of all previous matches in an elimination tournament

A block or form shaped like a human foot and used in making or repairing shoes.

An examination administered at the end of an academic term

A unit of volume or weight varying for different commodities and in different districts, equal to about 80 bushels, 640 gallons, or 2 tons.

Occurring at or forming an end or termination;

To continue in time; go on

Conclusive in a process or progression;

To continue; survive

Not to be altered or undone;

To remain in good or usable condition

Definitive and having no further progression.

To continue in force or practice

To remain in adequate supply

To keep adequately supplied

To persist or endure for the entire length of; survive

To mold or shape on a last.

Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.

Most recent, latest, last so far.

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.

Being the only one remaining of its class.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Lowest in rank or degree.

The (one) immediately before the present.

(of days of the week or months of the year) Closest in the past, or closest but one if the closest was very recent; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) ago, or the most recent instance before seven days (one week) ago.

Most recently.

(sequence) after everything else; finally

To perform, carry out.

(intransitive) To endure, continue over time.

(intransitive) To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.

To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last.

A tool for shaping or preserving the shape of shoes.

(obsolete) A burden; load; a cargo; freight.

(obsolete) A measure of weight or quantity, varying in designation depending on the goods concerned.

(obsolete) An old English (and Dutch) measure of the carrying capacity of a ship, equal to two tons.

A load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value.

Of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth.

Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.

Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Lowest in rank or degree; as, the a last place finish.

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

In conclusion; finally; lastly.

At a time next preceding the present time.

To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.

A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

The burden of a ship; a cargo.

The temporal end; the concluding time;

The last or lowest in an ordering or series;

A person's dying act; the last thing a person can do;

The time at which life ends; continuing until dead;

A unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds

A unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels

The concluding parts of an event or occurrence;

Holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes

Persist or be long; in time;

Continue to live; endure or last;

Immediately past;

Coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining;

Occurring at or forming an end or termination;

Conclusive in a process or progression;

Most unlikely or unsuitable;

Occurring at the time of death;

Not to be altered or undone;

Lowest in rank or importance;

Highest in extent or degree;

In accord with the most fashionable ideas or style;

More recently than any other time;

The item at the end;

Being the only remaining.

Last emphasizes position in a sequence, and doesn't always imply finality.

Yes, as in "the movie lasted two hours."

No, Last can also describe duration, as in "the event lasted three hours."

Typically, yes. Final suggests a sense of conclusiveness.

Generally, yes. Final often implies a definitive end or conclusion.

You could say it's the "last" event.

"Final" typically carries more weight or gravity.

Yes, as in "the last piece of pie."

Yes, like "final moment" or "final hour."

Yes, as in "the last place I'd want to be."

The "final" event would be the conclusive one.

It's a "final" decision.

They finish "last."

Yes, in this context, they can be synonymous.

You'd say it "lasted" a certain duration.