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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Ultimate: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：final (ultimate)

ultimate 🔊

/ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/

adj./n.

the last, final, or eventual part of a process or goal.

final 🔊

➕

/fˈaɪnəl/

adj./n.

This sense refers to something that comes at the very end of a sequence or process, or is the eventual result.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Ultimus (Latin: furthest) + -ate (adj. suffix)

💡 Mnemonic

ULTI-mate: think 'ULTIMATely', it's the LAST mate you'll ever need.

📖 Example

After months of practice, winning the championship was his ultimate goal. 🔊 Following extensive training, achieving the championship title represented his final and most important objective.

🔗 Collocations

ultimate goal – the final and most important objective

ultimate destination – the final stopping point on a journey

ultimate sacrifice – the greatest possible sacrifice, typically one's life

🔄 Synonyms

final (adj.) – coming at the end; last in a series

last (adj.) – coming after all others in time or order

eventual (adj.) – happening at the end of a process or period of time

🚫 Antonyms

initial (adj.) – existing or occurring at the beginning

beginning (adj./n.) – the point in time or space at which something starts

🌱 Derivatives

ultimately (adv.) – finally; in the end

ultimatum (n.) – a final demand or statement of terms

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from the Latin 'ultimus', meaning 'farthest' or 'last'. It entered English via Old French 'ultimat', originally describing the outermost geographical point, later abstracted to mean 'final' or 'best'.

Meaning 2：supreme (ultimate)

ultimate 🔊

/ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/

adj./n.

the best, greatest, or most extreme example of something, representing the highest quality or level.

supreme 🔊

➕

/suːpɹˈiːm/

adj./n.

This sense refers to the highest degree or the best possible example of a particular quality or type.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This burger is not just good; it's the ultimate comfort food, with the perfect combination of cheese, beef, and sauce. 🔊 This hamburger isn't merely tasty; it's the supreme example of soothing cuisine, featuring an ideal mix of cheese, meat, and condiments.

🔗 Collocations

ultimate experience – the best and most complete experience possible

ultimate challenge – the most difficult and demanding test

ultimate victory – the greatest and most complete win

🔄 Synonyms

supreme (adj.) – highest in rank or quality

paramount (adj.) – more important than anything else; supreme

peak (adj./n.) – of the highest level or quality

🚫 Antonyms

worst (adj.) – of the lowest quality or the least desirable

inferior (adj.) – lower in quality or status