late

adjective

\ ˈlāt

later; latest

Definition of late

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : coming or remaining after the due, usual, or proper time a late spring was late for class

(2) : of, relating to, or imposed because of tardiness had to pay a late fee

b(1) : of or relating to an advanced stage in point of time or development : occurring near the end of a period of time or series the late Middle Ages

(2) : far advanced toward the close of the day or night late hours

2a : living comparatively recently : now deceased —used of persons the late John Doe and often with reference to a specific relationship or status his late wife

b : being something or holding some position or relationship recently but not now the late belligerents

c : made, appearing, or happening just previous to the present time especially as the most recent of a succession our late quarrel

late

adverb

later; latest

Definition of late (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : after the usual or proper time got to work late

b : at or to an advanced point of time

2 : not long ago : recently a writer late of Chicago

of late

: in the period shortly or immediately preceding : recently has been sick of late

Other Words from late Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about late

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for late

Adjective

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life. dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life. a dead, listless performance defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation. a defunct television series deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use. the estate of the deceased departed is used usually as a euphemism. our departed sister late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status. the company's late president

Examples of late in a Sentence

Adjective

It happened in late spring. a word first recorded in the late 17th century We had a late spring this year. Hurry up or we'll be late for school. Their warning was too late to help him. I've always been a late riser. He made a donation to the school in memory of his late wife.

Adverb

Late in the year he became ill. It rained late in the day. Late in his career he moved to the city. a word first recorded late in the 17th century They were trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The package should be arriving late next week. He sent in his job application late. They arrived too late for breakfast. I like getting up late. The package arrived late, but better late than never!

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

With their latest collection, MAC in Monochrome, the brand has taken six of its most iconic lipstick shades and created a full-face range for each that will make your monochromatic dreams come true. — Roberta Gorin-paracka, Teen Vogue, "MAC Cosmetics Launches MAC in Monochrome Collection," 13 Jan. 2019 Industrial profits declined in November for the first time in almost three years, latest official data showed. — WSJ, "China’s Sluggish Prices Raise Deflation Fears," 10 Jan. 2019 The area is full of possibilities from a shopping afternoon on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, to a walk by the river to see a wonderful sunset from the Bridge Alexander III or see that latest exhibition at the Grand Palais. — Kaitlin Menza, Town & Country, "The Best Room at...Hotel Splendide Royal in Paris," 8 Jan. 2019 Every last inch of the gallery—named Chapel del Jimmy Ray for McLauchlin’s late father—and home (called Casa de Las Ranas) is touched by intriguing vibrancy. — Jaimie Potters, ELLE Decor, "A Design Lover's Guide to Visiting San Miguel de Allende," 7 Jan. 2019 That means some amazing deals can be had on older models that are almost identical to Apple's latest and greatest. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "If You Ever Wanted an Apple Watch, Today Is a Good Day," 4 Jan. 2019 Some of the latest data, from 2015-’16, shows 10 percent of children and adolescents ages 4 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD in the US. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Kids who start kindergarten young are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD," 17 Dec. 2018 Facebook’s actions here may be too late to fix Myanmar’s problems. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Facebook removed hundreds more accounts linked to the Myanmar military for posting hate speech and attacks against ethnic minorities," 19 Dec. 2018 Grab your winter gear because Hallmark's latest 'Countdown to Christmas' feature is going to inspire you to take a trip up north. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Hallmark's 'Welcome to Christmas' Movie Was Filmed in a Real-Life Winter Wonderland," 9 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Meghan's rendezvous with Rufus Norris is the latest of her under-the-radar meetings as of late. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle's Latest Royal Meeting Is a Nod to Her Acting Roots," 13 Dec. 2018 The scandal has even reached U.S. late-night television, with Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday joking that Mr. Buhari was a clone before launching into a skit about the cloning of his co-host, Guillermo. — Joe Parkinson, WSJ, "Nigeria Gripped by Whether President Is a Clone. ‘It’s the Real Me, I Assure You.’," 10 Dec. 2018 The would-be late-night show started out on stage in 2009, then moved to New York public access TV in 2011, then made the leap to more traditional cable networks, first to Fusion (2015) and finally landing on TruTV (2017). — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Comedian Chris Gethard on offensive humor: tell the jokes, but don’t police the response," 30 Nov. 2018 Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty Images New Orleans may have a reputation for Mardi Gras and late-night jazz concerts, but the Big Easy is also an ideal destination for families with kids. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The best things to do with kids in 13 U.S. cities," 20 Nov. 2018 The segment was filmed ahead of Fallon’s hugely anticipated Central Park episode, making The Tonight Show the first-ever late-night show to broadcast from the famed NYC park. — Dan Barna, Teen Vogue, "Justin Bieber Celebrated Halloween Early With a Dark Wig and Baggy Suit," 14 Sep. 2018 The couple are being sued by Johnny Bobbitt, who got McClure gas late one night in 2017 when she was stranded in Philadelphia. — Mike Catalini, Fox News, "Couple who raised funds for homeless man being investigated," 6 Sep. 2018 The quagmire has deepened of late, with the Taliban continuing to wage attacks on Afghan and allied troops. — Jen Kirby, Vox, "Trump will reportedly remove 7,000 troops from Afghanistan," 21 Dec. 2018 That could be as early as January, or as late as March. — James Vincent, The Verge, "Everything you need to know about Europe’s new copyright directive," 13 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'late.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.