later

1 of 2

adverb

lat·​er ˈlā-tər 

: at some time subsequent to a given time : subsequently, afterward

one week later

they later regretted the decision

—often used with on

experience that will be useful later on

-later

2 of 2

noun combining form

: worshipper

bibliolater

Synonyms of later

Adverb

• afterward
• after
• thereafter

Examples of later in a Sentence

Adverb

I'll talk to you again later.

They later regretted the decision.

She returned several weeks later.

I saw him again later that morning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

She was later pronounced dead, and her death was ruled a homicide. —Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

Right-hander Luke Weaver was unable to hold them on and then gave up two of his own runs later in the inning. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026

McDavid answered that goal less than two minutes later, and the Sharks couldn't slow him down the rest of the night. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

Newsom said the move to defer the funding and repay it at a later, unspecified point is necessary to create a cushion for uncertain state revenue projections and to avoid potentially allocating more money to schools than is actually available, since the budget isn’t finalized until the summer. —Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

see late entry 1

Noun combining form

French -latre, from Late Latin -latres, from Greek -latrēs; akin to Greek latron pay

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing later

• at a later/future date
• later on
• no/not later than
• see you (around/later)
• sooner or later
• sooner rather than later

Rhymes for later

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• accelerator
• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator