last minute

[min-it]

noun

1. the time just preceding a deadline or when some decisive action must be taken.

last-minute

noun

1. (modifier) given or done at the latest possible time

   last-minute preparations

Other Word Forms

• last-minute adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of last minute¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Mr Patterson lost his parents Don and Gail because of the meal cooked by his wife, a lunch that he too would have eaten, had he not declined the invitation at the last minute.

From BBC

He came off the bench and scored in the last minute like me.

From BBC

Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson was meant to attend the lunch too but cancelled at the last minute, in part due to his belief that his wife had been trying to poison him for years.

From BBC

Last year, the mayor of London used £30m of Greater London Authority funds to avert a Tube strike at the last minute.

From BBC

It added that the announcement was made last minute because they had been working to find a solution, but had been unable to do so.

From BBC