Phrase guide

dead last

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Finishing in last place in a competition or ranking, often by a considerable margin to the next to last place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • That high-school football team only scored 18 points all year! No wonder they were dead last in the league.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dead first

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vihonviimeinen — finishing last
  • Japanese: どべ — finishing last
  • Japanese: ドベ — finishing last