Cool MateThat was the last vs Ultimate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That was the last
Top 2,000 (common)
Ultimate
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Most common: Ultimate
| That was the last | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz ðə lɑːst//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz ðə læst// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʌltɪmət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʌltɪmət/"]/ |
| Meaning | The final thing or instance. | the best or most extreme version of something |
| Example | That was the last time I saw her. | our **ultimate goal/aim/objective/target** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | that was the last chance, that was the last straw, that was the last ticket | ultimate goal, ultimate experience, ultimate challenge, ultimate decision, ultimate test |
| Antonyms | - | inferior, least, mediocre |
| Common mistakes | Using with non-final contexts., Omitting the reason for emphasis., Confusing with 'this was the last' | Mistakenly using in a literal context instead of as a descriptor for quality., Confusing with 'penultimate' which means second to last., Using 'ultimate' to modify nouns it doesn't apply to, like 'ultimate happiness' instead of 'ultimate goal'. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when indicating that something is the final occurrence. It’s typically conversational but can be used in narratives. | Used to express the highest quality or extreme level. Often used in marketing to describe top products or experiences. Not suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: That was the last vs Ultimate
What's the difference between That was the last and Ultimate?
That was the last: The final thing or instance. Ultimate: the best or most extreme version of something
Which is more common: That was the last and Ultimate?
Ultimate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That was the last: That was the last time I saw her. Ultimate: our **ultimate goal/aim/objective/target**
Can I use That was the last and Ultimate interchangeably?
Not always. That was the last and Ultimate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.