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

Scattered at regular intervals throughout the system’s roughly 440 miles of underground track, emergency exit stairwells provide a last-ditch means of getting passengers stranded on a subway out of the system and onto the street. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 Dec. 2024

So Biden’s last-ditch effort to keep the US on track to meet global climate goals is more symbolic — seemingly designed to encourage a grassroots movement in defiance of Trump’s national agenda. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

What to watch: Sullivan is traveling to Israel, Egypt and Qatar this week in a last ditch effort to reach a deal before Trump's inauguration in less than six weeks. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above