later

American  

[lei-ter] / ˈlɛɪ tər /

adjective

1. a comparative of late.

   Her later years were not happy.

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adverb

1. a comparative of late.

   The meeting ran later than we expected.

2. afterward, subsequently, or at a time in the future (sometimes followed byon ).

   She later said she was sorry. I'll see you later. Let's decide about this later on.

later British  

/ ˈleɪtə /

adjective

1. the comparative of late

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adverb

1. afterwards; subsequently

2. an expression of farewell

3. eventually; inevitably

later Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing later

• late
• sooner or later

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Etymology

Origin of later

First recorded before 900; lat(e) ( def. ) + -er ⁴ ( def. ) for the adjective; lat(e) ( def. ) + -er ⁵ ( def. ) for the adverb

Explanation

Later is a way to talk about time: some time after now. You can go to a movie later tonight. Later can also mean more recent, as in "Which is the later movie, Gone with the Wind or Citizen Kane?" It can mean toward the end: “He made that movie later in his career.” It can also mean after, as in "You were later than I thought you'd be!" It can also be used in comparison: "He was late; I was later." All these uses are about time, and how time keeps moving on from now to later.

Example Sentences

Seven months later, those issues have yet to be resolved.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

He was later located and is now safe.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

It will rather be "subject to separate discussions" at a later stage.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

His third detention came roughly two weeks later.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Every day the sun rose a little later, the bite took longer to leave the air.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• afterward
• again
• next
• subsequently
• thereafter