late

American  

[leyt] / leɪt /

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.

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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.

idioms

1. of late, lately; recently.

   The days have been getting warmer of late.

late British  

/ 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

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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

late More Idioms  

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

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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

Related Words

See modern.

Other Word Forms

• lateness noun
• overlate adjective
• overlateness noun

Etymology

Origin of late

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”

Example Sentences

Beauty, which late Wednesday reported a better-than-expected quarter and raised its outlook for the year, could be the “clear winner” from the 2016 trend, Wagner said.

From MarketWatch

Many people think cognitive decline doesn’t really kick in until later decades of life, while dementia only affects the oldest of the old.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lincoln’s partisan roots, Bob Dylan’s late career, the rise of the NFL and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

In high school, he started a tutoring business that he later sold.

From Los Angeles Times

Ten days later, he put nearly all of the agency’s 75 employees on administrative leave, fired the board and rescinded some previously awarded grants.

From Salon

Related Words

• old
• once
• past
• previous
• sometime