Ask Difference

Lastly vs. Last — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 22, 2023
Lastly refers to the final point or item in a series, while Last can mean the final item, the most recent, or to endure.
Lastly vs. Last — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Lastly and Last

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Key Differences

Lastly and Last are both terms associated with the concept of an end or conclusion, but they function differently in sentences. Lastly is an adverb that typically signifies the final point or item when listing or enumerating things. For instance, when providing a list of reasons or points, one might conclude with "lastly" to signal the concluding point.
Last, on the other hand, has a broader range of meanings and uses. As an adjective, it denotes the final item in a sequence. As an adverb, it can mean the most recent occasion or after all others. Additionally, Last can also be used as a verb, signifying endurance or continuation over a period. This multifunctional nature of Last sets it apart from the more specific usage of Lastly.
In everyday communication, one might use Lastly when presenting the final item in a series, such as in presentations or explanations. Conversely, Last is employed in varied contexts, such as describing the final train of the evening, the most recent event, or the duration something continues. This versatility of Last showcases its diverse applications compared to Lastly.
To emphasize, while both words revolve around the idea of finality, their roles in speech and writing are distinct. Lastly primarily serves to highlight the end of a list or sequence, whereas Last possesses broader applications, from describing order and recency to indicating duration.

Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Adverb
Adjective, Adverb, Verb
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Common Usage

Concluding point in a list
Final item, most recent, or to endure

Position in Sentence

Usually at the beginning of a sentence or clause
Can be used flexibly based on its function in the sentence

Versatility

Specific to indicating a final point in a sequence
Broad range of meanings and uses

Examples

"Lastly, we must consider the budget."
"She was the last to leave." "When did you last see him?"

Compare with Definitions

Lastly

The final point in an enumeration.
Lastly, ensure you double-check your answers.

Last

Final in a sequence.
She sat in the last row.

Lastly

Introducing the final item in a sequence.
Lastly, the dessert will be served.

Last

Most recent in time.
I saw him last week.

Lastly

Indicating the ultimate reason or point.
Lastly, this method is environmentally friendly.

Last

Remaining after all others.
He was the last person I expected.

Lastly

The end remark in a discourse.
Lastly, always stay positive.

Last

Enduring or continuing over time.
These boots will last for years.

Lastly

To conclude a series or list.
Lastly, I'd like to thank my family.

Last

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.

Lastly

Being, coming, or placed after all others; final
The last game of the season.

Last

Being, coming, or placed after all others; final
The last game of the season.

Lastly

Being the only one left
His last nickel.
As a last resort.

Last

Being the only one left
His last nickel.
As a last resort.

Lastly

Just past; most recent
Last year.
The last time I checked.

Last

Just past; most recent
Last year.
The last time I checked.

Lastly

Most up-to-date; newest
The last thing in swimwear.

Last

Most up-to-date; newest
The last thing in swimwear.

Lastly

Highest in extent or degree; utmost
To the last measure of human endurance.

Last

Highest in extent or degree; utmost
To the last measure of human endurance.

Lastly

Most valid, authoritative, or conclusive
The arbiter will have the last say in resolving this dispute.

Last

Most valid, authoritative, or conclusive
The arbiter will have the last say in resolving this dispute.

Lastly

Least likely or expected
The last person we would have suspected.

Last

Least likely or expected
The last person we would have suspected.

Lastly

The least desirable or suitable
The last man for the job.

Last

The least desirable or suitable
The last man for the job.

Lastly

Being the latest possible
Waited until the last second before boarding the train.

Last

Being the latest possible
Waited until the last second before boarding the train.

Lastly

Lowest in rank or importance
Last prize.
Last place.

Last

Lowest in rank or importance
Last prize.
Last place.

Lastly

Used as an intensive
Every last dollar was donated to charity.

Last

Used as an intensive
Every last dollar was donated to charity.

Lastly

Of or relating to a terminal period or stage, as of life
The last days of the dinosaurs.

Last

Of or relating to a terminal period or stage, as of life
The last days of the dinosaurs.

Lastly

Administered just before death
The last sacraments.

Last

Administered just before death
The last sacraments.

Lastly

After all others in chronology or sequence
Arrived last.

Last

After all others in chronology or sequence
Arrived last.

Lastly

Most recently
A fashion last popular in the 1940s.

Last

Most recently
A fashion last popular in the 1940s.

Lastly

At the end; finally
Add the butter last.

Last

At the end; finally
Add the butter last.

Lastly

One that is at the end or last
The last to be chosen.
On every page but the last.

Last

One that is at the end or last
The last to be chosen.
On every page but the last.

Lastly

The end
Held out until the last.

Last

The end
Held out until the last.

Lastly

The final mention or appearance
Haven't seen the last of our troubles.

Last

The final mention or appearance
Haven't seen the last of our troubles.

Lastly

(sequence) Used to mark the beginning of the last in a list of items or propositions.
Firstly, that's illegal; secondly, it has serious disadvantages; thirdly, it's not necessary; and lastly, did I mention that it's illegal?

Last

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

Lastly

(discourse marker) Used to signal that the speaker is about to yield control of the conversation.

Last

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

Lastly

In the last place; in conclusion.

Last

To continue in time; go on
The war lasted four years.

Lastly

At last; finally.

Last

To continue; survive
The patient is not expected to last much longer.

Lastly

The item at the end;
Last, I'll discuss family values

Last

To remain in good or usable condition
Produce lasts longer if it is refrigerated. I wanted a car that would last.

Last

To continue in force or practice
Wondered if the marriage would last.

Last

To remain in adequate supply
Will our water last?.

Last

To keep adequately supplied
Left enough bread to last the family for the weekend.

Last

To persist or endure for the entire length of; survive
Hoped to last the season without injuring her leg again.

Last

To mold or shape on a last.

Last

Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.
“Eyes Wide Shut” was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Last

Most recent, latest, last so far.
The last time I saw him, he was married.
I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that...}}.

Last

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.
He is the last person to be accused of theft.
The last person I want to meet is Helen.
More rain is the last thing we need right now.

Last

Being the only one remaining of its class.
Japan is the last empire.

Last

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Last

Lowest in rank or degree.
The last prize

Last

The (one) immediately before the present.
We went there last year.
I was last to arrive.

Last

(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.
It's Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.
When you say last Monday, do you mean the Monday just gone, or the one before that?

Last

Most recently.
When we last met, he was based in Toronto.

Last

(sequence) after everything else; finally
I'll go last as I have to add the butter last.
Last but not least

Last

To perform, carry out.

Last

(intransitive) To endure, continue over time.
Summer seems to last longer each year.
They seem happy now, but that won't last long.

Last

(intransitive) To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.
I don't know how much longer we can last without reinforcements.

Last

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

Last

A tool for shaping or preserving the shape of shoes.

Last

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

Last

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

Last

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

Last

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

Last

Of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth.

Last

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.
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night.

Last

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

Last

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
Contending for principles of the last importance.

Last

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

Last

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.
And blunder on in business to the last.

Last

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.

Last

In conclusion; finally; lastly.
Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires,Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires.

Last

At a time next preceding the present time.
How long is't now since last yourself and IWere in a mask ?

Last

To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.
[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted.

Last

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.

Last

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

Last

A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.
The cobbler is not to go beyond his last.

Last

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.

Last

The burden of a ship; a cargo.

Last

The temporal end; the concluding time;
The stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
The market was up at the finish
They were playing better at the close of the season

Last

The last or lowest in an ordering or series;
He was the last to leave
He finished an inglorious last

Last

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

Last

The time at which life ends; continuing until dead;
She stayed until his death
A struggle to the last

Last

A unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds

Last

A unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels

Last

The concluding parts of an event or occurrence;
The end was exciting
I had to miss the last of the movie

Last

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

Last

Persist or be long; in time;
The bad weather lasted for three days

Last

Continue to live; endure or last;
We went without water and food for 3 days
These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
The racecar driver lived through several very serious accidents

Last

Immediately past;
Last Thursday
The last chapter we read

Last

Coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining;
The last time I saw Paris
The last day of the month
Had the last word
Waited until the last minute
He raised his voice in a last supreme call
The last game of the season
Down to his last nickel
Going from sitting to standing without intermediate pushes with the hands
Intermediate stages in a process
Intermediate stops on the route
An intermediate level

Last

Occurring at or forming an end or termination;
His concluding words came as a surprise
The final chapter
The last days of the dinosaurs
Terminal leave

Last

Conclusive in a process or progression;
The final answer
A last resort
The net result

Last

Most unlikely or unsuitable;
The last person we would have suspected
The last man they would have chosen for the job

Last

Occurring at the time of death;
His last words
The last rites

Last

Not to be altered or undone;
The judge's decision is final
The arbiter will have the last say

Last

Lowest in rank or importance;
Last prize
In last place

Last

Highest in extent or degree;
To the last measure of human endurance
Whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was...to be determined individually

Last

In accord with the most fashionable ideas or style;
Wears only the latest style
The last thing in swimwear
Knows the newest dances
Cutting-edge technology
A with-it boutique

Last

More recently than any other time;
I saw him last in London

Last

The item at the end;
Last, I'll discuss family values

Last

After all others in order.
She finished last in the race.

Common Curiosities

How is "Last" used to indicate time?

It can denote the most recent occurrence, like "last week."

Is "Lastly" used in formal contexts?

Yes, it's often used in presentations and formal writings.

How can "Last" indicate duration?

As a verb, e.g., "The movie lasted three hours."

Are Lastly and Last interchangeable?

Not always. "Lastly" is specific to concluding a list, while "Last" has varied meanings.

Is "Lastly" an adverb?

Yes, "Lastly" is an adverb.

Can "Last" function as a verb?

Yes, e.g., "The show lasted two hours."

Is "Lastly" limited to ending a series?

Primarily, yes. It highlights the final point or item.

Can "Last" be an adjective?

Yes, e.g., "He was the last speaker."

Can "Last" describe order?

Yes, as in "She came in last."

Can "Last" refer to a previous event?

Yes, e.g., "I visited Paris last year."

How is "Lastly" positioned in a sentence?

Often at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

Which word is more versatile?

"Last" is more versatile due to its broader range of meanings.

Is "Lastly" always followed by a comma?

Usually, especially when it introduces a new point or idea.

Does "Last" always denote finality?

Not always. It can also indicate recency or duration.

When should I use "Lastly" in a presentation?

When introducing the final point or topic.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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