later
- a comparative of late:Her later years were not happy.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- of late, lately; recently: The days have been getting warmer of late.
Origin of late
Synonyms for late
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for later
next, again, subsequently, afterward, thereafter, after, ensuing, following, posterior, proximate, subsequent, ulterior, downstream, succeeding, behind, latterly, infraExamples 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 SecondsBarbie Latza Nadeau
January 8, 2015
Their bodies were later found incinerated and buried in mass graves outside of town.
He later accepted a plea deal that put him behind bars for 25 years.
This was later repurposed in Europe as an explanation for racial superiority, and the term “Aryan” came to define a white race.
Many hold classes in their living rooms, asking students to help re-arrange and then later put back furniture.
Historical Examples of later
Later he involved himself in explanations that were both obscure and conflicting.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Perhaps my father might have put that in a bottle also at a later date.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"They needn't wait another day for me," Percival told him later.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
But if I join to you, I'll have to meet him sooner or later.
Way of the LawlessMax 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 CampusJessie Graham Flower
later
- the comparative of late
- afterwards; subsequently
- see you later an expression of farewell
- sooner or later eventually; inevitably
late
- 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
- 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
Word Origin for late
usage
Word Origin and History for later
comparative of late. Meaning "farewell" is from 1954, U.S. slang, short for see you later.
late
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.