Meaning & Definition of Late in English

1. Being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

• "Late evening"

• "Late 18th century"

• "A late movie"

• "Took a late flight"

• "Had a late breakfast"

2. After the expected or usual time

• Delayed

• "A belated birthday card"

• "I'm late for the plane"

• "The train is late"

• "Tardy children are sent to the principal"

• "Always tardy in making dental appointments"

3. Of the immediate past or just previous to the present time

• "A late development"

• "Their late quarrel"

• "His recent trip to africa"

• "In recent months"

• "A recent issue of the journal"

4. Having died recently

• "Her late husband"

5. Of a later stage in the development of a language or literature

• Used especially of dead languages

• "Late greek"

6. At or toward an end or late period or stage of development

• "The late phase of feudalism"

• "A later symptom of the disease"

• "Later medical science could have saved the child"

7. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past

• "The former president"

• "Our late president is still very active"

• "The previous occupant of the white house"

1. Later than usual or than expected

• "The train arrived late"

• "We awoke late"

• "The children came late to school"

• "Notice came so tardily that we almost missed the deadline"

• "I belatedly wished her a happy birthday"

2. To an advanced time

• "Deep into the night"

• "Talked late into the evening"

3. At an advanced age or stage

• "She married late"

• "Undertook the project late in her career"

4. In the recent past

• "He was in paris recently"

• "Lately the rules have been enforced"

• "As late as yesterday she was fine"

• "Feeling better of late"

• "The spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also"