(noun, adjective, adverb)


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

Similar word(s): advanced, ripe, latish, posthumous

2. after the expected or usual time; delayed

- a belated birthday card

- I'm late for the plane

- the train is late

Similar word(s): unpunctual, belated, tardy

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

- a late development

- their late quarrel

Similar word(s): past, recent

4. having died recently

- her late husband

Similar word(s): dead

5. of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages

- Late Greek

Similar word(s): modern, new

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

Similar word(s): advanced, tardive, later

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

- our late President is still very active

Similar word(s): past, former, previous

Sentences with late as an adjective:

- It was late in the evening when we finally arrived.

- It was getting late and I was tired.

- Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.

- Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late.

- Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.

- I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?

- Her late husband had left her well provided for.

- The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.

- the late bishop of London;


1. later than usual or than expected

- the train arrived late

- we awoke late

- the children came late to school

Similar word(s): belatedly, tardily

2. to an advanced time

- talked late into the evening

Similar word(s): deep

3. at an advanced age or stage

- she married late

- undertook the project late in her career

4. in the recent past

- lately the rules have been enforced

- as late as yesterday she was fine

- feeling better of late

Similar word(s): lately, latterly, recently

Sentences with late as an adverb:

- We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.

- Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.


1. (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.