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
: a place of final defense or resort
Examples of last-ditch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Danielle Bacher, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Two strangers in their late 20s, bonded by the Florida Panthers and travel plans that had gone awry, somehow found themselves on a last-ditch effort to salvage their travel from South Florida to Western Canada for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final and to potentially see hockey history unfold.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Ben Morse, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
McTavish nearly completed his first career hat trick into the empty net, but a last ditch effort by former Duck Rickard Rakell forced his one-handed shot attempt into the post.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for last-ditch
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
After Elizabeth Holmes lost her last-ditch effort to overturn her 2022 fraud conviction by a federal appeals court on Monday, Feb. 24, the former Theranos founder responded to the decision from behind bars.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Two strangers in their late 20s, bonded by the Florida Panthers and travel plans that had gone awry, somehow found themselves on a last-ditch effort to salvage their travel from South Florida to Western Canada for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final and to potentially see hockey history unfold.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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
McTavish nearly completed his first career hat trick into the empty net, but a last ditch effort by former Duck Rickard Rakell forced his one-handed shot attempt into the post.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for last-ditch
Cite this Entry
“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share