At last means finally, after a long wait or after difficulties. It expresses relief or happiness: At last, the rain has stopped. At long last is even stronger: finally, after all that time.
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at last, + clause; clause + at last; at long last
- At last, the builders have finished and we can use our kitchen again.
- After three failed attempts, she passed her driving test at last.
- The sun came out at last on the final day of our holiday.
What changed
First versionAt last, I would like to add that public transport should be cheaper.
RevisionFinally, I would like to add that public transport should be cheaper.
At last has only one job: it says that something you waited a long time for has finally happened. It cannot introduce the last point in a list. For the final point in an essay or a talk, use Finally or Lastly, so the correction replaces At last with Finally.
Finally is broader than at last. It can also mean “after a long time”: We finally got home at midnight. But finally also introduces the last item in a list, and at last is not used in lists.
Your turn
We waited four months for our visas, and ___ they arrived yesterday.
Show the answer
at last — The visas took four months, and now they have arrived: this is relief after a long wait, so at last fits. Lastly introduces the last point in a list, and it is not used about an event you have been waiting for.
Write about something you waited for or worked towards for a long time. Say how long it took and what finally happened.
After two years of saving, at last I've booked a trip to Japan.
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