last-ditch

1 of 2

adjective

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
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Adjective
Biden, who is in a last-ditch effort to supply Ukraine in his final two months in office, greenlit the supply of antipersonnel land mines to Kyiv, a U.S. defense official told Newsweek. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024 Through some naive sleuthing and meddling, the girls manage to bring a corporate retreat out to the ranch in a last-ditch effort to prove there’s still a demand for Natty’s ranch. Sara Belcher, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
Last summer, as Bayern made a last ditch attempt to sign Palhinha, the prospect of losing both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Palhinha in one summer was unpalatable. Peter Rutzler, The Athletic, 3 July 2024 In the parking lot of the East Palo Alto Family YMCA, city council candidates stood flagging down prospective voters, a last ditch effort to garner votes. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for last-ditch 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last-ditch was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near last-ditch

last day

last-ditch

last ditch

Cite this Entry

“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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