late
Americanadjective
-
later,
comparative
-
last,
superlative
-
latest
superlative
-
occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: a late spring.
late frosts;
a late spring.
-
continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted.
a late business meeting.
-
near or at the end of day or well into the night.
a late hour.
-
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.
-
immediately preceding the present one; former.
the late attorney general.
-
recently deceased.
the late Mr. Phipps.
-
occurring at an advanced stage in life.
a late marriage.
-
belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something.
the late phase of feudalism.
adverb
-
after the usual or proper time, or after delay.
to arrive late.
-
until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night.
to work late.
-
at or to an advanced time, period, or stage.
The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.
-
recently but no longer.
a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.
idioms
adjective
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occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time
the train was late
-
(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time
a late marriage
-
(prenominal) towards or near the end
the late evening
-
at an advanced time in the evening or at night
it was late
-
(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present time
his late remarks on industry
-
(prenominal) having died, esp recently
my late grandfather
-
(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former
the late manager of this firm
-
recently; lately
adverb
-
after the correct or expected time
he arrived late
-
at a relatively advanced age
she married late
-
recently; lately
as late as yesterday he was selling books
-
rising and going to bed later than is usual
-
-
at a late or advanced stage
-
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
Synonym Usage
See modern.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
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”
Explanation
Late means after the expected time, or at the end of a certain period of time. if you're late for a movie, you get to the theater after the film's already started. If you're a late sleeper, you make a habit of dozing long after your alarm goes off. When you're late, you're not on time. You might also be in your late twenties, which means you're at the end of that decade of your life — closer to 30 than to 20. If your friend calls and says, "Sorry I'm calling so late," she means late at night, at the very end of the day. And if you refer to someone as "the late Mr. Smith," it's a formal way of saying Mr. Smith is dead.
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.
See Examples For:
Still, force majeure remains in place on some of QatarEnergy’s contracted LNG supplies into late December.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
At the entrance to Buenos Aires Cathedral, where the late Pope Francis served as archbishop for 15 years, a TV screen shows images of him kissing the feet of the faithful.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
Although the star has fascinated astronomers for generations, it attracted worldwide attention in late 2019 and early 2020 when its brightness unexpectedly plunged to its lowest recorded level in more than 100 years.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
That changed by the late 1980s, as immigration brought millions of Latinos to California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
It was late on the second day by the time he’d finished.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Originally listed in August of 2025, the listing was briefly pulled off the market a year later before returning the next day with the same asking price.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
Four minutes later, the wild predator had collapsed into a limp, furry noodle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
A runner who suffered a cardiac arrest at the 25th mile of the London Marathon has finally "finished what I started" - by walking the last mile, six months later.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
The changes are certified as urgent, allowing them to be debated and voted on quickly, and they are expected to easily pass later on Wednesday by the legislature dominated by the ruling People's Action Party.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
A few nights later the radio carried the news we dreaded: the Queen had left.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
However, despite earlier weakness, AI stocks were largely in the green in premarket trade, with Nasdaq futures last up 0.15%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
"They ended last season quite well to get into Europe and that felt really historic," former Sunderland loan signing Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Swedish policymakers said their first rate rise is unlikely to be their last.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
Only relegated Burnley and Wolves had a lower Expected Goals difference - comparing the amount of good chances created to those chances created against them - than Sunderland last campaign.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
I look myself over one last time in the mirror.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
"The latest statement uses the issue as an opportunity to condemn the entire US policy of pressure against North Korea, marking a shift from defence to offence," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
The surge in attacks has coincided with signs that the recent recovery in shipping through Hormuz is faltering, although the latest oil-flow figures are preliminary and subject to upward revision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
A report into the latest problems at the new maternity building said there were several critical issues which could "compromise the long-term safety and operability of the building" if not addressed.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
The latest measurements also help scientists understand how Betelgeuse has changed since its extraordinary fading episode.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
“If it’s not back before three o’clock at the latest, the rest of today’s Morpho event will be canceled.”
From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
