51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

late

[leyt]

adjective

later, latest, last. 
  1. occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: a late spring.

    late frosts;

    a late spring.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  2. continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted.

    a late business meeting.

  3. near or at the end of day or well into the night.

    a late hour.

  4. belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent.

    a late news bulletin;

    The car is a late model, but I don't know the exact year.

  5. immediately preceding the present one; former.

    the late attorney general.

  6. recently deceased.

    the late Mr. Phipps.

  7. occurring at an advanced stage in life.

    a late marriage.

  8. belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something.

    the late phase of feudalism.



adverb

later, latest 
  1. after the usual or proper time, or after delay.

    to arrive late.

  2. until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night.

    to work late.

  3. at or to an advanced time, period, or stage.

    The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.

  4. recently but no longer.

    a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.

late

/ ɪ /

adjective

  1. occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time

    the train was late

  2. (prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time

    a late marriage

  3. (prenominal) towards or near the end

    the late evening

  4. at an advanced time in the evening or at night

    it was late

  5. (prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present time

    his late remarks on industry

  6. (prenominal) having died, esp recently

    my late grandfather

  7. (prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former

    the late manager of this firm

  8. recently; lately

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. after the correct or expected time

    he arrived late

  2. at a relatively advanced age

    she married late

  3. recently; lately

    as late as yesterday he was selling books

  4. rising and going to bed later than is usual

    1. at a late or advanced stage

    2. too late

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Usage

Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late ) editor of The Times
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • lateness noun
  • overlate adjective
  • overlateness noun
  • ˈٱԱ noun
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of late1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English æ “slow, late”; cognate with German lass “slothful,” Old Norse latr, Gothic lats “slow, lazy,” Latin lassus “t”
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of late1

Old English æ; related to Old Norse latr, Gothic lats
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. of late, lately; recently.

    The days have been getting warmer of late.

In addition to the idioms beginning with late, 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 under later.
Discover More

Synonym Study

See modern.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"We need to bin the Energy Profits Levy and lift the ban on new licences - before it's too late."

From

In late May, Miller appeared on Fox News to announce publicly he was setting a goal of arresting 3,000 undocumented migrants a day.

From

Three days later, it sent out a bulletin for a gray-haired Jane Doe picked up near Echo Park Lake.

From

“I’m grateful to be alive. I made some really bad decisions in my past. But it’s never too late. I do regret a lot of the stuff I did. I have to live with that.”

From

They were amazed to discover another forester during their surveys later on.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


latchstringlate blight