later

[lei-ter]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR later ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

a comparative of late:Her later years were not happy.

adverb

a comparative of late: The meeting ran later than we expected.

afterward, subsequently, or at a time in the future (sometimes followed by on): She later said she was sorry. I'll see you later. Let's decide about this later on.

late

[leyt]

adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, 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.

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.

Origin of late

before 900; Middle English; Old English læt slow, late; cognate with German lass slothful, Old Norse latr, Gothic lats slow, lazy, Latin lassus tired

Related formslate·ness, nouno·ver·late, adjectiveo·ver·late·ness, noun

Can be confusedformer later latter

Synonyms for late

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR late ON THESAURUS.COM

1. tardy; slow, dilatory; delayed, belated. 4. See modern.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for later

next, again, subsequently, afterward, thereafter, after, ensuing, following, posterior, proximate, subsequent, ulterior, downstream, succeeding, behind, latterly, infra

Examples from the Web for later

Contemporary Examples of later

It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”
Pope Francis Has the Pleasure of Meeting Angelina Jolie for a Few Seconds
Barbie Latza Nadeau
January 8, 2015
Their bodies were later found incinerated and buried in mass graves outside of town.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting
Ruben Navarrette Jr.
January 6, 2015
He later accepted a plea deal that put him behind bars for 25 years.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro
Bill Conroy
January 6, 2015
This was later repurposed in Europe as an explanation for racial superiority, and the term “Aryan” came to define a white race.
The Himalayas’ Hidden Aryans
Nina Strochlic
January 3, 2015
Many hold classes in their living rooms, asking students to help re-arrange and then later put back furniture.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread
IranWire
January 2, 2015

Historical Examples of later

Later he involved himself in explanations that were both obscure and conflicting.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Perhaps my father might have put that in a bottle also at a later date.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
"They needn't wait another day for me," Percival told him later.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
But if I join to you, I'll have to meet him sooner or later.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
"I'll see you later," said Grace, as they paused for a moment in front of Vinton's.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower

British Dictionary definitions for later

later

adjective, adverb

the comparative of late

adverb

afterwards; subsequently

see you later an expression of farewell

sooner or later eventually; inevitably

late

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 Formslateness, noun

Word Origin for late

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

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

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

Word Origin and History for later

comparative of late. Meaning "farewell" is from 1954, U.S. slang, short for see you later.

late

adj.

Old English læt "occurring after the customary or expected time," originally "slow, sluggish," from Proto-Germanic *lata- (cf. Old Norse latr "sluggish, lazy," Middle Dutch, Old Saxon lat, German laß "idle, weary," Gothic lats "weary, sluggish, lazy," latjan "to hinder"), from PIE *led- "slow, weary" (cf. Latin lassus "faint, weary, languid, exhausted," Greek ledein "to be weary"), from root *le- "to let go, slacken" (see let (v.)).

The sense of "deceased" (as in the late Mrs. Smith) is from late 15c., from an adverbial sense of "recently." Of women's menstrual periods, attested colloquially from 1962. Related: Lateness. As an adverb, from Old English late.

Idioms and Phrases with later

later

In addition to the idiom beginning with later

later on

also see:

sooner or later

Also see underlate.

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.