late
occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting.
near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour.
belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin;The car is a late model, but I don't know the exact year.
immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general.
recently deceased: the late Mr. Phipps.
occurring at an advanced stage in life: a late marriage.
belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something: the late phase of feudalism.
after the usual or proper time, or after delay: to arrive late.
until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night: to work late.
at or to an advanced time, period, or stage: The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.
recently but no longer: a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.
Idioms about late
Origin of late
1synonym study For late
Other words for late
Other words from late
- lateness, noun
- o·ver·late, adjective
- o·ver·late·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with late
- later , latter
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for late
/ (leɪt) /
occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time: the train was late
(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time: a late marriage
(prenominal) towards or near the end: the late evening
at an advanced time in the evening or at night: it was late
(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present time: his late remarks on industry
(prenominal) having died, esp recently: my late grandfather
(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former: the late manager of this firm
of late recently; lately
after the correct or expected time: he arrived late
at a relatively advanced age: she married late
recently; lately: as late as yesterday he was selling books
late hours rising and going to bed later than is usual
late in the day
at a late or advanced stage
too late
Origin of late
1usage For late
Derived forms of late
- lateness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with late
In addition to the idioms beginning with late
- late in life
- late in the day
also see:
- at the latest
- better late than never
- Johnny-come-lately
- keep late hours
- of late
- the latest
- too little, too late
Also see underlater.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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