late

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Arriving, happening or done after the time that was expected, planned or required.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a late train, but the train is late.

   Patterns

   • late for something
   • late with something
   • late to do something

   I was late for the meeting because the bus broke down.

   She apologized for the late reply to his email.

   Your essay will lose marks if it is late.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Near the end of a period of time, such as a day, season or stage of life.

   Grammar: Often placed before a noun: in late autumn; the comparative is later.

   Patterns

   • late in the day
   • late at night
   • in the late 1990s

   We had a quiet dinner in the late afternoon.

   The author published his best novels in his late forties.

   Tomatoes are usually ripe by late summer.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounformal

   No longer alive; used before a name to speak respectfully of someone who has died, usually recently.

   Grammar: Comes before the noun and cannot be made stronger: my late uncle, not my very late uncle.

   Patterns

   • the late someone

   The scholarship was set up in memory of her late husband.

   The park is named after the late mayor.

   He often spoke of his late grandmother's cooking.

4. 4adverbnot comparable

   After the expected or proper time, or at an advanced point in the day or night.

   Grammar: Follows the verb: she arrived late. Do not confuse with lately, which means recently.

   Patterns

   • arrive late
   • stay up late
   • work late

   The guests arrived late and missed the toast.

   I stayed up late to finish the book.

   He works late on Thursdays.

Word forms

Common combinations

running late

Start without me; I'm running late.

late payment

A late payment will add a small fee to your bill.

late bloomer

My brother was a late bloomer and only found his talent at thirty.

late night

After a late night, she slept until noon.

better late than never

You finally called her back? Well, better late than never.

late arrival

A late arrival caused a short delay at the start of the film.

Synonyms and how they differ

overdue

Overdue describes something that should already have happened or been paid, such as a bill or a library book, and carries a sense of obligation that late does not always have.

tardy

Tardy is a formal, slightly old-fashioned word that mostly describes people arriving after a deadline, especially in schools.

delayed

Delayed says something was held up by an outside cause, like a train or flight, while late simply states it came after the expected time.

belated

Belated is used for things like greetings or thanks that come well after the proper moment, and it often sounds warm or apologetic.

Opposites

Word family

lately adverb

in the recent past

later adverb

at a time after now or after another event

lateness noun

the state of being late

latecomer noun

a person who arrives late

latest adjective

most recent

Commonly confused: late or lately?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “late”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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