Meaning of late in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /leɪt/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    late

    Definitions

    1. after the expected or usual time

    Examples

    • « delayed »
    • « a belated birthday card »
    • « I'm late for the plane »
    • « the train is late »
    • « tardy children are sent to the principal »
    • « always tardy in making dental appointments »

    Synonyms

  2. Adverb

    late

    Definitions

    1. later than usual or than expected

    Examples

    • « the train arrived late »
    • « we awoke late »
    • « the children came late to school »
    • « notice came so tardily that we almost missed the deadline »
    • « I belatedly wished her a happy birthday »

    Antonyms

  3. 2. to an advanced time

    Examples

    • « deep into the night »
    • « talked late into the evening »
  4. 3. at an advanced age or stage

    Examples

    • « she married late »
    • « undertook the project late in her career »
  5. 4. in the recent past

    Examples

    • « he was in Paris recently »
    • « lately the rules have been enforced »
    • « as late as yesterday she was fine »
    • « feeling better of late »
    • « the spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also »

  6. Qualitative Adjective

    late

    Etymology

    Old English læt (adjective; also in the sense ‘slow, tardy’), late (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus‘weary’, let, and let

    Definitions

    1. being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

    Examples

    • « late evening »
    • « late 18th century »
    • « a late movie »
    • « took a late flight »
    • « had a late breakfast »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  7. 2. of a later stage in the development of a language or literature

    Examples

    • « used especially of dead languages »
    • « Late Greek »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  8. 3. at or toward an end or late period or stage of development

    Examples

    • « the late phase of feudalism »
    • « a later symptom of the disease »
    • « later medical science could have saved the child »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms