eleventh hour
noun
: the latest possible time before it is too late
still making changes at the eleventh hour
Examples of eleventh hour in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ongoing negotiations The Royals are working into the eleventh hour heading into Election Day beyond securing Lucas’ support.
—
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
But on Monday, that figure was reduced at the eleventh hour by the state’s appellate court, and now Trump and his associates must fork over $175 million within 10 days of the ruling.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
Then, in late September, the U.S. seemed to be barreling toward what would have been one of the largest government shutdowns in history but again struck an eleventh hour agreement to keep the government open.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2023
The industry is currently on watch, wondering if that drastic move will actually come to fruition, or if the two sides will come to an armistice at the eleventh hour to avoid an all-out war.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, a cease fire (or armistice) went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany, signaling the unofficial end of World War I.
Are banks open on Veterans Day?
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
Selected to host, at the eleventh hour, was Jo Koy, a highly successful comedian who’s used to performing in big rooms to thousands of fans, largely about Filipino culture, but here seemed out of proportion, out of his depth and a fish out of water.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024
Inventories will be slimmer in the eleventh hour, but hotels may still cut prices on unsold rooms.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023
Even the Pakistan cricket team were only able to obtain visas at the eleventh hour, after complaints of a delay in the process which the Pakistan Cricket Board said disrupted the team’s preparation for the event.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN, 12 Oct. 2023
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
But on Monday, that figure was reduced at the eleventh hour by the state’s appellate court, and now Trump and his associates must fork over $175 million within 10 days of the ruling.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
Then, in late September, the U.S. seemed to be barreling toward what would have been one of the largest government shutdowns in history but again struck an eleventh hour agreement to keep the government open.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2023
The industry is currently on watch, wondering if that drastic move will actually come to fruition, or if the two sides will come to an armistice at the eleventh hour to avoid an all-out war.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, a cease fire (or armistice) went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany, signaling the unofficial end of World War I.
Are banks open on Veterans Day?
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
Selected to host, at the eleventh hour, was Jo Koy, a highly successful comedian who’s used to performing in big rooms to thousands of fans, largely about Filipino culture, but here seemed out of proportion, out of his depth and a fish out of water.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024
Inventories will be slimmer in the eleventh hour, but hotels may still cut prices on unsold rooms.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023
Even the Pakistan cricket team were only able to obtain visas at the eleventh hour, after complaints of a delay in the process which the Pakistan Cricket Board said disrupted the team’s preparation for the event.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN, 12 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eleventh hour.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1821, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Eleventh hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eleventh%20hour. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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