lately

American  

[leyt-lee] / ˈleɪt li /

adverb

1. of late; recently; not long since.

   He has been very grouchy lately.

---

lately British  

/ ˈleɪtlɪ /

adverb

1. in recent times; of late

---

Etymology

Origin of lately

before 1000; Middle English latli; Old English lætlīce; see late, -ly

Explanation

Something that happened lately occurred very recently. If you've spotted a fox every day for the last week, you might say, "I've seen so many foxes lately!" If your friend says, "I've been really stressed out lately," she means she's been overworked and tense for the past few days, weeks, or possibly months. Lately is an adverb that covers the immediate past, a period of time that wasn't too long ago. A more old-fashioned way to say lately is "of late." Though this word has had its current meaning since the fifteenth century, it originally meant "slow or sluggish."

Example Sentences

Lately, beans have gotten a bit of a rebrand.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

Lately, though, not everyone’s big capital-spending plans are drawing plaudits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Lately, the war in Iran has been pushing up airfares, especially international ones, due to rising jet fuel costs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Lately, some hedge funds have been asking banks to place QIS moves for them, as well, a sign of their growing popularity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Lately she did her washing on Saturday afternoons following her school lessons.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead