belated

American  

[bih-ley-tid] / bɪˈleɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. coming or being after the customary, useful, or expected time.

   belated birthday greetings.

2. late, delayed, or detained.

   We started the meeting without the belated representative.

3. Archaic. obsolete; old-fashioned; out-of-date.

   a belated view of world politics.

4. Archaic. overtaken by darkness or night.

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belated British  

/ bɪˈleɪtɪd /

adjective

1. late or too late

   belated greetings

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Other Word Forms

• belatedly adverb
• belatedness noun

Etymology

Origin of belated

First recorded in 1610–20; belate “to delay” ( be- + late ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Pace bowler Josh Tongue emerged with his reputation enhanced, while Jacob Bethell's coming-of-age century in the final Test was a belated silver lining.

From BBC

For Liverpool fans, that will be music to their ears and a belated Christmas gift.

From BBC

An even more welcome addition to our already bulging shelves is the belated arrival of a largely complete studio discography of Britain’s greatest conductor, and certainly its most self-possessed: the musical grandee Sir Thomas Beecham.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Ashes: England's belated resistance ends as Australia retain the Ashes.

From BBC

What is your biggest takeaway from the belated November report?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• delayed
• long-delayed
• overdue
• tardy