at last—after much waiting or delay:
- It is an uplifting thought that truth is to be told at last.
at the last—during the final period:
- Ah, but you never saw him at the last. He was not at all what he used to be.
Note:
a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase at the last minute—at the last possible moment:
- The plane took a nose dive. The pilot was able to bring it out at the last minute…
b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase at the latest—used of smth. that must happen at or before a particular time:
- Changes will become necessary by the autumn at the latest.