late

[leyt]

adjective

later, latest, last. 

1. occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: a late spring.

   late frosts;

   a late spring.

   Synonyms: belated, delayed, dilatory, slow, tardy

2. continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted.

   a late business meeting.

3. near or at the end of day or well into the night.

   a late hour.

4. belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent.

   a late news bulletin;

   The car is a late model, but I don't know the exact year.

5. immediately preceding the present one; former.

   the late attorney general.

6. recently deceased.

   the late Mr. Phipps.

7. occurring at an advanced stage in life.

   a late marriage.

8. belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something.

   the late phase of feudalism.

adverb

later, latest 

1. after the usual or proper time, or after delay.

   to arrive late.

2. until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night.

   to work late.

3. at or to an advanced time, period, or stage.

   The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.

4. recently but no longer.

   a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.

late

/ leɪt /

adjective

1. occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time

   the train was late

2. (prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time

   a late marriage

3. (prenominal) towards or near the end

   the late evening

4. at an advanced time in the evening or at night

   it was late

5. (prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present time

   his late remarks on industry

6. (prenominal) having died, esp recently

   my late grandfather

7. (prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former

   the late manager of this firm

8. recently; lately

adverb

1. after the correct or expected time

   he arrived late

2. at a relatively advanced age

   she married late

3. recently; lately

   as late as yesterday he was selling books

4. rising and going to bed later than is usual

5. 1. at a late or advanced stage

   2. too late

Usage

Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late ) editor of The Times

Other Word Forms

• lateness noun
• overlate adjective
• overlateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of late¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English læt “slow, late”; cognate with German lass “slothful,” Old Norse latr, Gothic lats “slow, lazy,” Latin lassus “tired”

Word History and Origins

Origin of late¹

Old English læt; related to Old Norse latr, Gothic lats

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of late, lately; recently.

   The days have been getting warmer of late.

More idioms and phrases containing late

• Johnny-come-lately
• at the latest
• better late than never
• keep late hours
• later
• of late
• the latest
• too little, too late

Synonym Study

See modern.

Example Sentences

A few months later, just as the record was hitting shelves, McMahon received a successful stem cell transplant from his sister and was subsequently declared cancer-free.

From Los Angeles Times

“The smallest vest and Chucks. That was her uniform of that year. And mine was that I just always looked like I was late for the cowboy-themed junior prom.”

From Los Angeles Times

Indiana resident Perry Tole suffered a laceration on his left cheek during an incident that occurred late Friday night and into early Saturday in an alley outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel.

From Los Angeles Times

They eventually triggered on June 28 the magnitude 7.3 Landers earthquake in the Mojave Desert — strong enough to cause shaking in Denver — and, hours later, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake to hit Big Bear.

From Los Angeles Times

That, she explained, is why she’s glad to have such a deep catalog — if one album doesn’t resonate now, it might later, when you’re living through something else.

From Salon

Related Words

• old 
• once 
• past 
• previous 
• sometime