- The definition of ultimate is something that is the best of its kind.
- An example of something that would be described as ultimate is the end goal you set at the start of college of eventually going to business school.
- An example of someone who would be described as the ultimate example of a great athlete is someone who has won an Olympic gold medal.
- The ultimate is the consummate or best example of something.
An example of the ultimate is something that is the pinnacle of success.
- beyond which it is impossible to go; farthest; most remote or distant
- by which a process or series comes to an end; final; conclusive
- beyond which further analysis, division, etc. cannot be made; elemental; fundamental; primary
- greatest or highest possible; maximum; utmost
Origin of ultimateLate Latin ultimatus, past participle of ultimare, to come to an end ; from Classical Latin ultimus: see ultima
- a. Being last in a series, process, or progression: “As the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution, the Supreme Court occupies a central place in our scheme of government” (Richard A. Epstein). See Synonyms at last1.b. Eventual: hoped for ultimate victory.
- Fundamental; elemental: an ultimate truth.
- a. Of the greatest possible size or significance; maximum: the ultimate act of courage.b. Representing or exhibiting the greatest possible development or sophistication: the ultimate bicycle.c. Utmost; extreme: the ultimate insult.
Origin of ultimateLatin ultimātus, past participle of ultimāre, to come to an end, from ultimus, last, superlative of *ulter, on the other side; see al-1 in Indo-European roots.
- Final; last in a series.
- (of a syllable) Last in a word or other utterance.
- Being the greatest possible; maximum; most extreme.
- the ultimate pleasure
- the ultimate disappointment
- Being the most distant or extreme; farthest.
- That will happen at some time; eventual.
- Last in a train of progression or consequences; tended toward by all that precedes; arrived at, as the last result; final.
- Incapable of further analysis; incapable of further division or separation; constituent; elemental.
- an ultimate constituent of matter
From Medieval Latin ultimatus (“furthest, last"), past participle of Latin ultimare (“to come to an end"), from ultimus (“last, final"); see ultra-.