last-ditch

1 of 2

adjective

ˈlas(t)-ˌdich 

-ˈdich

1

: fought or conducted from the last ditch : waged with desperation or unyielding defiance

put up a last-ditch resistance

2

: made as a final effort especially to avert disaster

a last-ditch attempt to raise the money

last ditch

2 of 2

noun

: a place of final defense or resort

Examples of last-ditch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cook made a last-ditch effort to wrestle the gun away, but Dozier broke free and fired as Cook attempted to run, according to police. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025

Just before the rally, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously rejected state Attorney General Josh Kaul’s (D) last-ditch attempt to stop the giveaway. —Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025

Noun

As a last ditch effort, Sunnova in early March borrowed $185 million from KKR at a 15% interest rate, secured by most of the company’s remaining valuable assets, including years of future residual cash flows from those ABS issues. —Christopher Helman, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Saunders drained both attempts to give the Cougars a one-point lead and BYU was able to stave off Arizona’s last ditch effort with just 3.2 seconds remaining for a famous victory. —Ben Morse, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above