: done or coming at the very end
a last-gasp attempt to score
last gasp noun

Examples of last-gasp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember. Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 Down 21 at the Bills’ 14 with 11:37 left, the Broncos faced a last-gasp fourth-and-2. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2025 The 37-year-old scored in four consecutive home games, including a hat-trick of last-gasp winners, to keep Phil Parkinson’s side firmly in the hunt for a historic third successive promotion. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 The Rams eventually lost to the Seahawks, 30-25, when a last-gasp drive led by backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo stopped short because Garoppolo is not Matthew Stafford. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025 United followed up last-gasp wins in Europe and at Manchester City with a disappointing 4-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup in a game characterised by goalkeeping mistakes at both ends. Darren Richman, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024 Evening Report © Greg Nash Johnson under fire as House nears vote to avert government shutdown THE HOUSE WILL VOTE FRIDAY EVENING on a bill to fund the government at current levels until March 14, a last-gasp effort by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to avoid a government shutdown. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024 Still, three weeks removed from a tough one-point loss at Oregon in which Howard slid too late for the Buckeyes to attempt a last-gasp field goal, the vibe walking off the field this time was far different. Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2024 Even with Ohtani’s injury, the Dodgers are now firmly in the driving seat to take the World Series after their last-gasp, historic Game 1 win and tense Game 2 win too. Issy Ronald, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last-gasp was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near last-gasp

Cite this Entry

“Last-gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-gasp. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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