Referring to the latest possible time before a crucial event occurs or a deadline passes; indicating a point when action is taken or a decision is made at the very last moment. It implies a sense of urgency, desperation, or procrastination, often highlighting the potential consequences of delay. The phrase originates from the biblical parable of the workers in the vineyard, where those hired at the eleventh hour (the last hour of the day) received the same pay as those who had worked all day.
Eleventh-hour meaning with examples
- The company finalized the merger agreement at the eleventh hour, just hours before the deal was set to expire. The negotiations were fraught with tension and last-minute demands, but a compromise was reached to save the deal. It was a tense situation, involving an all-night session for lawyers. This saved a lot of jobs and kept the company going.
- Due to a sudden realization of the impending deadline, she submitted her project at the eleventh hour. She had been putting off the work for weeks, and had to work non-stop through the night to finalize it. The delay meant that she had to get her work in very last, and it resulted in a rushed final product.
- The rescue team arrived at the site at the eleventh hour, just as the storm was intensifying. They raced against time to save the trapped mountaineers from the mountain. There was a danger of a avalance so the team needed to hurry as there were also heavy winds. The team performed excellently, with the rescue being successful.
- With the election results too close to call, the candidate made a final, eleventh-hour appeal to undecided voters. They had only hours to convince people, so the efforts became quite frantic. The campaign team worked tirelessly, launching a series of last-minute advertisements and organizing a series of final public appearances to garner support.
Eleventh-hour Synonyms
belated delayed desperate final last-ditch last-minute late procrastinatedEleventh-hour Antonyms
ahead of schedule early in good time prompt timelyEleventh-hour Crossword Answers
9 Letters
LASTDITCH