later
Americanadjective
adverb
-
a comparative of late.
The meeting ran later than we expected.
-
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.
adjective
adverb
-
afterwards; subsequently
-
an expression of farewell
-
eventually; inevitably
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A couple of hours later, still in the middle of a song, Liam waves goodbye and casually strolls out of the rehearsal space.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Vance later said Trump was “sending a message” to Iran with the post.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
The pro-crypto tailwinds lifted bitcoin above $126,000 last October before beginning a slide that continues nearly a year later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
The NNA later reported additional strikes on the Nabatieh area, and controlled detonations of unexploded munitions in at least two parts of the south.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
“I’m going to catch the first flight out, and I should be there later tonight,” she says.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
