late

1 of 2

adjective

later; latest
1
a(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
2
a
: 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
lateness noun

late

2 of 2

adverb

later; latest
1
a
: 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
Phrases
of late
: in the period shortly or immediately preceding : recently
has been sick of late
Choose the Right Synonym for late

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
And, if all else fails, there’s always Beyoncé, whose country album, Cowboy Carter, is due in late March to remind us how to wear summer hats. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 In late March and again on April 2, Wallace met secretly with Gromyko at the ambassador’s residence in New York. Benn Steil, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2024 Explore Ariana Grande See latest videos, charts and news The Artist 100 measures artists’ activity across key metrics of music consumption: streaming, radio airplay, album sales and track sales. Xander Zellner, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2024 The retailer’s stock spiked yesterday on the news, which would be its latest attempt to leave the public market since 2018. Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Washington — Congressional negotiators and the White House reached an agreement late Monday on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, sources familiar with the discussions confirmed to CBS News. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 The West Regional champions had to repel the Yellowjackets’ late attempt to seize victory late. Joseph D’hippolito, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 As moguls like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have made clear as of late, having six-pack abs in middle age is the new Lamborghini. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024 By late that night or early morning on March 11, Ohio 562 eastbound will be completely closed from I-75 to I-71. The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024
Adverb
The meet-up with Biden comes after Glo met Pittsburg Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin late last year. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2024 Scott Peterson/Getty Images/The Christian Science Monitor Ukraine’s liberation of Kherson in September 2022, for example, and the monthslong grinding fight for Bakhmut late last year pushed Ms. Sokhan and her colleagues to the limit. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 Californians pick Kevin McCarthy's replacement: A pack of nine candidates are seeking the vacant Congressional seat from McCarthy, the Bakersfield Republican who was ousted from his leadership post late last year. USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Their aim was simple: to glimpse — and hopefully be glimpsed by — their north star, who late last year signed a $700-million deal with the Dodgers and now was coming to Seoul to play a two-game series against the Padres to start the 2024 Major League Baseball season. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 An earth-shattering, multibillion-dollar antitrust ruling against the National Association of Realtors late last year led to a settlement on Friday that will loosen the powerful trade group’s stranglehold on America’s housing market. David Goldman, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism released a study late last year that said an average of 2.5 newspapers were lost per week in 2023, and more than half the country lives in a news desert. Jodie Valade, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 After teasing a full-length collaboration late last year, Metro Boomin and Future have announced not one, but two new albums releasing in the coming weeks. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The Mavericks then took their first lead of the night at 69-68 with 6:19 left in the third quarter and extended their lead to 11 points late in the period before entering the fourth quarter ahead by eight. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'late.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English, late, slow, from Old English læt; akin to Old High German laz slow, Old English lǣtan to let

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of late was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near late

Cite this Entry

“Late.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/late. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

late

1 of 2 adjective
later; latest
1
a
: coming or remaining after the due, usual, or proper time
a late spring
b
: of or relating to an advanced stage in time or development
the late Middle Ages
especially : far advanced toward the close of the day or night
late hours
2
a
: having died or held some position or relationship recently
the late president
b
: recent sense 1b
a late discovery
lateness noun

late

2 of 2 adverb
later; latest
1
a
: after the usual or proper time
came in late
b
: at or to an advanced point in time
later in the day
2
: not long ago
a musician late of Chicago
Etymology

Adjective

Old English læt "late, slow" — related to last entry 4

More from Merriam-Webster on late

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!