lately
Americanadverb
adverb
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What’s Next: EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen hasn’t said a lot about the SpaceX stake lately.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
Outside of music, what are some things that have been keeping you grounded and excited lately?
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
With Kimi Antonelli doing especially well lately and a lot of talk about his talent and future, can we put some of his results down to his race engineer Pete Bonnington?
From BBC • May 19, 2026
If you’ve been anywhere online or in stores lately, you’ve likely encountered marketing buzz like “Sign-up to earn loyalty discounts” or “Become a rewards member today!”
From Salon • May 18, 2026
"I have been working so hard here lately," she explained.
From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
