Meaning & use
late winter
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
the last part of winter, especially the weeks before spring begins.
Grammar: Used without an or an and usually without a plural: in late winter, during late winter.
Patterns
- in late winter
- during late winter
- late-winter weather
The garden looks bare in late winter, but the first buds appear in March.
In late winter, the roads are often icy in the early morning.
They took a short vacation in late winter to escape the cold.
Common combinations
- in late winter
- The birds return to the lake in late winter.
- late-winter storm
- A late-winter storm dumped snow on the city.
- late winter snowfall
- Late winter snowfall can surprise drivers who are ready for spring.
- the late winter months
- The late winter months are quiet at the beach.
Synonyms and how they differ
- late in the winter
- A more conversational phrase with the same meaning; late winter is more compact and common in writing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: late winter or midwinter?
late winter vs midwinter
Midwinter is the middle of winter, around the shortest day of the year, while late winter is the final part, closer to spring.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'late winter' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Late winter is an uncountable time phrase used with in, so 'in late winter' is correct. 'In a late winter' is wrong because it takes no article, and 'in late winters' is wrong because it is not used in the plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “late winter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.