- the comparative of late
afterwards; subsequently
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
late /leɪt/USA pronunciation
adj., lat•er or lat•ter, lat•est or last /læst/USA pronunciation
adv., lat•er, lat•est.
adj.
adv.
late•ness, n. [uncountable]Please excuse the lateness of the hour.[countable]Two latenesses count as one absence.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025adj.
- occurring after the usual or proper time:a late spring.
- continued until after the usual time or hour:a late business meeting.
- near or at the end of the day or well into the night:a late hour.
- most recent:[before a noun]Here is a late news bulletin.
- recently deceased:[before a noun]the late John and Jane Doe.
- belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something:[before a noun]the late phase of feudalism.
- belonging in or near the end of a stage or period in a life:[before a noun]in his late twenties.
adv.
- after the usual or proper time, or after delay:to arrive twenty minutes late.
- until after the usual time or hour, esp. of the night:to work late.
- recently but no longer;
lately.
- Idioms of late, lately;
recently:He seems tired of late.
late•ness, n. [uncountable]Please excuse the lateness of the hour.[countable]Two latenesses count as one absence.
late
(lāt),USA pronunciation adj., lat•er or lat•ter, lat•est or last, adv. lat•er, lat•est.
adj.
adv.
late′ness, n.
adj.
- 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.
- Idioms of late, lately;
recently:The days have been getting warmer of late.
adv.
- after the usual or proper time, or after delay:to arrive late.
- until after the usual time or hour;
until an advanced hour, esp. 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.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English læt slow, late; cognate with German lass slothful, Old Norse latr, Gothic lats slow, lazy, Latin lassus tired
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged tardy; slow, dilatory; delayed, belated.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See modern.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time: the train was late - (prenominal)
occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time: a late marriage - (prenominal)
towards or near the end: the late evening at an advanced time in the evening or at night: it was late - (prenominal)
occurring or being just previous to the present time: his late remarks on industry - (prenominal)
having died, esp recently: my late grandfather - (prenominal)
just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former: the late manager of this firm - of late ⇒
recently; lately
after the correct or expected time: he arrived late at a relatively advanced age: she married late recently; lately: as 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
'later than' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Newfoundland time
- Rig-Veda
- Wahhabi
- after
- behind
- by
- cantaloupe
- classical Sanskrit
- greylag
- late
- latest
- outsleep
- parachronism
- past
- postdate
- tardy