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Better late than never
It is better to do something after it was supposed to have been done than not to do it at all.
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Idioms and Phrases
Being tardy is better than not at all, as in We've been waiting for you for an hour—but better late than never. This phrase, first recorded about 1200, appears in several early English proverb collections, often with the added but better never late. Today it is often used in exasperation over a delay, as in the example.
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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.
“Better late than never,” he quipped Wednesday night.
From Los Angeles Times
She says: "It is better late than never, especially now that we are marking 80 years since the end of World War Two and very few are left of those who took part."
From BBC
Kay returned to performing stand-up comedy after a 12-year break when he announced his Better Late than Never tour in November 2022.
From BBC
Better late than never, but it was a great honor.
From Los Angeles Times
In recent years, a few states decided to ratify the amendment on the theory of “better late than never.”
From Slate
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