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

The comment appeared to be drawing attention to the fact that Colton starred on and dated women on both The Bachelorette and The Bachelor before later coming out as gay in 2021 after the reality star said he was being blackmailed by an individual who had threatened to release a photo of him. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026

About five years later, that classmate, the writer Shane Hinton, who would become a dear and lifelong friend, sent me an email to tell me that Lidia’s essay had been published as a memoir, also titled The Chronology of Water. —Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026

Style it with ballet flats or ankle boots now, and rewear it later with heels for date night. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

Police later issued a bulletin, and a Chicago police officer who had encountered Thurman just days earlier recognized him. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 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