- comparative of late.
later
Americanadjective
adverb
-
a comparative of late.
The meeting ran later than we expected.
-
afterward, subsequently, or at a time in the future (sometimes followed byon ).
She later said she was sorry. I'll see you later. Let's decide about this later on.
adjective
adverb
-
afterwards; subsequently
-
an expression of farewell
-
eventually; inevitably
Etymology
Origin of later
First recorded before 900; lat(e) ( def. ) + -er 4 ( def. ) for the adjective; lat(e) ( def. ) + -er 5 ( def. ) for the adverb
Explanation
Later is a way to talk about time: some time after now. You can go to a movie later tonight. Later can also mean more recent, as in "Which is the later movie, Gone with the Wind or Citizen Kane?" It can mean toward the end: “He made that movie later in his career.” It can also mean after, as in "You were later than I thought you'd be!" It can also be used in comparison: "He was late; I was later." All these uses are about time, and how time keeps moving on from now to later.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Years later, we won back the walls from the gangs," said the muralist who considers art a "magical tool" for "social transformation."
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Rio prosecutors charged Flávio in 2020 with running a scheme to skim the salaries of legislative aides, a case later closed after key evidence was thrown out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Then comes a trip to North Macedonia on 3 October and another meeting with the Slovenians three days later in Glasgow.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Nerve damage necessitated a second surgery several months later and the prospects were not promising.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
A brilliant flash followed a second later by an explosion that shook the bed.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
