Synonyms

first and last

Idioms

Under all circumstances, always, as in She was an artist first and last. (For a synonym, see above all.) This expression, first recorded in 1589, should not be confused with the similar-sounding from first to last, which means “from start to finish” or “throughout,” as in We cheered them on from first to last.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The cell line, called "HeLa" after the patient's first and last name, was sent to research labs around the world.

From BBC

People don’t usually use a person’s first and last name when they start a letter.”

From Literature

Only one name on the list is redacted and the rest of the first and last names are public.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was the first and last time Art.

From The Wall Street Journal

An AC/DC fan has run an ultramarathon dressed as the band's Angus Young, running between the first and last concerts on their Australian tour to raise money for charity.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023