lately

adverb

late·​ly ˈlāt-lē How to pronounce lately (audio)
Synonyms of latelynext
: of late : recently
has been friendlier lately

Examples of lately in a Sentence

He has been feeling better lately. Lately, she has been worrying about her son.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Filip Gustavsson, who has been mostly solid for the Wild in his postseason stints, has lost focus in games lately in Tampa Bay and Boston. Michael Russo, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 The power play has struggled, and the goaltending, which had been a strong suit, hasn’t been great lately. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026 And besides, the fashion mood lately has moved toward a more refined, agile elegance. Alex Sales, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2026 There have been a lot of frustrating moments for Adebayo lately, as the Heat entered Sunday’s contest in Indianapolis with a 1-6 record over the last seven games. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lately

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lately was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lately. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

lately

adverb
late·​ly ˈlāt-lē How to pronounce lately (audio)
: not long ago

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