Something that’s the latest is the newest, most recent example of that thing. For example, some people always need to have the latest cellphone model, while you’re perfectly happy with the one that came out three years ago.
You can listen to a singer’s latest single, or read a novelist’s latest book — the ones most recently written and released. The adjective latest can also describe the very most fashionable thing, like the latest hairstyle or the latest men’s suit design. «The latest» is also sometimes used to mean «the news,» so you could say, «Hey, have you all heard the latest on the flood at school?»
Definitions of latest
-
adjective
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
“the very
latest scientific discoveries”-
synonyms:
up-to-the-minute
-
current
occurring in or belonging to the present time
-
current
-
adjective
in the current fashion or style
-
synonyms:
a la mode, in style, in vogue, modish
-
fashionable, stylish
being or in accordance with current social fashions
-
fashionable, stylish
-
noun
the most recent news or development
“have you heard the
latest?”
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘latest’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Look up latest for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the
words you need to know.
Sign up now (it’s free!)
Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.
Get started
- Top Definitions
- Quiz
- Related Content
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ ley-tist ]
/ ˈleɪ tɪst /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective, a superlative of late, with later as comparative.
most recent; current: latest fashions.
noun
the latest, the most recent news, development, disclosure, etc.: This is the latest in personal computers.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Idioms about latest
at the latest, not any later than (a specified time): Be at the airport by 7 o’clock at the latest.
Origin of latest
A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at late, -est1
Words nearby latest
laterite, lateritious, laterization, later on, lateroversion, latest, late-type star, late wood, latex, latex paint, lath
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to latest
How to use latest in a sentence
-
The report is the result of a review that began in March 2019 and is the latest detailed look inside the FAA after the Max crashes.
-
Catch up on the biggest developments in the pandemic at the end of the day with our free coronavirus newsletterThe couple’s arrest is the latest known incident of infected passengers ignoring health and safety guidelines when traveling to Hawaii.
-
In front of this strange structure are two blank-faced, well-dressed models showing off the latest in European minimalism.
-
Her latest book, Heretic: The Case for a Muslim Reformation, will be published in April by HarperCollins.
-
Where the U.S. once sought to train several divisions worth, the latest effort is for just 3,000 troops.
-
The kid from next door drops by and Marvin talks to him about the stunts in his latest film, Death Hunt.
-
Jacob Cordova, 27, is the latest activist to be jailed for their activities.
-
They came forward, a little timidly, and their latest visitor held out a hand to each.
-
To fill up the time till Liszt came, our hostess made us play, one after the other, beginning with the latest arrival.
-
A system of supplying school-children with penny dinners is the latest philanthropic movement.
-
Ellis’s patent boot studs to save the sole, and the Euknemida, or concave-convex fastening springs, are the latest novelties.
-
You will not read the book with the rapidity with which some young ladies are said to devour the latest novel.
British Dictionary definitions for latest
adjective, adverb
adjective
most recent, modern, or newthe latest fashions
noun
at the latest no later than the time specified
the latest informal the most recent fashion or development
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
последний, поздно, недавно, новинка
прилагательное ↓
- самый новый, самый последний, самый свежий (об известиях, новостях)
the latest thing — последнее слово, новость, новинка 
существительное ↓
- новинка; что-л. самое современное
have you heard the latest about the war? — вы слышали последнее сообщение о войне?
she wears the latest in hats — её шляпки всегда последнее слово моды
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
the latest developments — последние события
the latest / newest fad — последняя причуда
the latest fashion(s) — последняя мода
after the latest fashion — по последней моде
the latest fashion — самая последняя мода
the latest news — последние известия
by the latest estimates — по последним оценкам
latest models of cars — последние модели автомобилей
latest modifications — последние изменения
Примеры с переводом
Have you heard the latest news?
Вы слышали последние новости?
What’s the latest gossip?
Каковы последние сплетни?
Her latest toy is a sports car.
Ее последняя игрушка — спортивный автомобиль.
Have you seen the latest issue?
Вы видели последний выпуск (журнала, газеты)?
He always follows the latest fads
Он всегда следует последним веяниям моды.
Where was the latest sighting?
Где было последнее наблюдение?
Spielberg’s latest hit movie
Последний популярный фильм Спилберга.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
I found his latest novel a bit heavy going. 
What’s the latest buzz about their marriage?
This latest problem is altogether more serious.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
later — позже, поздно, позднее, недавно, поздний, более поздний, последний, бывший
Adjective
She’s interested in all the latest fashions.
He is the latest person to announce his resignation.
Noun
following the latest in design
Recent Examples on the Web
The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
—
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
—Joey Cappelletti And Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
The stalemate is the latest in a growing trend of local hospitals and insurance providers struggling to reach contract renewal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—The Enquirer, 14 Feb. 2023
The American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan’s ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.
—Sabrina Park, Harper’s BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023
The shooting came a day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
—Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023
The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
—Ken Kusmer, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Feb. 2023
The shooting is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
Seh-lynn Chai is the latest in a series of searing memoirs by North Koreans who beat the odds and reached safety in free countries.
—Melanie Kirkpatrick, WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023
The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
—Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
That equates to more than 45 million Americans using CBD products, based on latest available U.S. Census estimates.
—Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘latest.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
“The latest” means the most recent and “the last” means the final or the one before something that we are talking about. When talking about T.V series, software, books, etc. we use “latest” when we want to talk about the most recent release.
Examples:
Oh, I am so excited. I am going to watch the latest episode of Ozark.
What was the last episode of Ozark that we watched?
The last episode of Ozark is out on Wednesday.
Last meaning and use
The word “last” means that something is final, it comes after everything else. Think about something that has many objects and after all the other ones have been chosen, then we have the last one
Examples:
I was picked last again to play baseball
I just ate the last piece of cake
Last with time
When we use “last” with time we usually have done the activity multiple times and “the last time” is the most recent.
I went to the Bahamas last year.
Last Wednesday was my birthday.
“The last time” can also mean that we don’t want to do this activity again.
This is my last week at University ever!
This is the last time I will tell you to stop biting your names.
Latest meaning and use
“Latest” means that something is the most recent. It means that something is the most up-to-date.
The latest model of Tesla is so cool.
This is the latest iPhone.
Latest also means the “most late” as in the time that a final possibility.
The latest that you can hand in your paper is Friday.
The latest I can do is 10 pm.
The last or latest version?
The “last version” and the “latest version” could both be possible. The latest version means the most recent. The last version means the version before the one you are talking about.
- Author
- Recent Posts
Conor is the main writer here at One Minute English and was an English teacher for 10 years. He is interested in helping people with their English skills and learning about using A.I tools at work.