lately

American  

[leyt-lee] / ˈleɪt li /

adverb

1. of late; recently; not long since.

   He has been very grouchy lately.

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lately British  

/ ˈleɪtlɪ /

adverb

1. in recent times; of late

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Etymology

Origin of lately

before 1000; Middle English latli; Old English lætlīce; see late, -ly

Explanation

Something that happened lately occurred very recently. If you've spotted a fox every day for the last week, you might say, "I've seen so many foxes lately!" If your friend says, "I've been really stressed out lately," she means she's been overworked and tense for the past few days, weeks, or possibly months. Lately is an adverb that covers the immediate past, a period of time that wasn't too long ago. A more old-fashioned way to say lately is "of late." Though this word has had its current meaning since the fifteenth century, it originally meant "slow or sluggish."

Example Sentences

Things have been looking a bit rosier lately.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Cakarel, who has taken a firmer hand in content decisions lately, said “Die My Love” performed exceptionally well on streaming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

But lately, growing numbers of preretirees and retirees are giving it the old college try.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

In the type of volatile market we’ve seen lately, it often pays to be part of something that is already working, defying the weakness.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

My chest was tight underneath the life vest, like the way it had felt at mealtimes lately when I was staring down a plate of food.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen