late

[ leyt ]

/ leɪt /

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See synonyms for: late / last / later / latest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, lat·er, lat·est or last.

occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: 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, lat·er, lat·est.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR late

1 tardy; slow, dilatory; delayed, belated.

See synonyms for late on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about late

of late, lately; recently: The days have been getting warmer of late.

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”

synonym study for late

4. See modern.

OTHER WORDS FROM late

lateness, nouno·ver·late, adjectiveo·ver·late·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH late

later , latter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use late in a sentence

To make it up to Martin, he decides to direct Martin’s latest play.
The mind-boggling end of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, explained|Constance Grady|November 20, 2020|Vox
So the near future could see Newsmax, OAN and other upstart outlets capture the attention of 2021’s version of the tea party, the latest right-wing backlash to a Democratic president.
The Republican Party’s future: Being terrorized by its unhinged base|Paul Waldman|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Four months is too long not to have on display the work of a chef whose dished filled dining rooms at the late Emilie’s on Capitol Hill, with which he parted ways in June, and the beloved Himitsu in Petworth.
At Moon Rabbit, chef Kevin Tien lures fans to the Wharf|Tom Sietsema|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
He was confused by the plays he called late in the game and tried to retrace his steps.
A high school football coach had a heart attack during a game, but didn’t leave until it was done|Kyle Melnick|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

Michael Locksley is isolating at his Olney home, the latest college football coach to test positive for the coronavirus.
College football has been battered by covid. What’s most startling is our acceptance.|Barry Svrluga|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Collins, for all his lateness, is still ahead of all his gay colleagues.
Jason Collins Becomes the First Openly Gay Active NBA Player|Justin Green|April 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Bieber's team tweeted an apology for his lateness, which is perhaps a new low in the history of rock ‘n’ roll and social media.
Bieber Late For UK Gig, Homework Suffers, Bedtimes Missed|Tom Sykes|March 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I was sick of his lateness and his wildness and sick of all that pain.
A Writer's Secret Life|Susan Cheever|October 8, 2008|DAILY BEAST
After dark we wandered about the streets until the church-tower chimes warned us of the lateness of the hour.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
Eloise's face was scarlet, while Jack pretended suddenly to remember the lateness of the hour, and started to leave the room.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
If it proves unsuccessful the principal difficulty will arise from the lateness of my request.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
The lateness of the hour enabled Mr. and Mrs. Eldred to come up and give a hand with the waiting and the dishing-up.
The Creators|May Sinclair
He was playing with a rosebud he had plucked from a vase near, but as unconscious of its beauty as of the lateness of the hour.
Alone|Marion Harland

British Dictionary definitions for late

late

/ (leɪt) /

adjective

occurring or arriving after the correct or expected timethe train was late

(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced timea late marriage

(prenominal) towards or near the endthe late evening

at an advanced time in the evening or at nightit was late

(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present timehis late remarks on industry

(prenominal) having died, esp recentlymy late grandfather

(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; formerthe late manager of this firm

of late recently; lately

adverb

after the correct or expected timehe arrived late

at a relatively advanced ageshe married late

recently; latelyas late as yesterday he was selling books

late hours rising and going to bed later than is usual

late in the day

at a late or advanced stage
too late

Derived forms of late

lateness, noun

Word Origin for late

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

usage for late

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with late

late

In addition to the idioms beginning with late

late in life
late in the day

also see:

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

Also see underlater.

late

OTHER WORDS FOR late

Idioms about late

Origin of late

synonym study for late

OTHER WORDS FROM late

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH late

Words related to late

How to use late in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for late

Derived forms of late

Word Origin for late

usage for late

Other Idioms and Phrases with late