Late

Quick meaning: Late is an adjective meaning Near the end of a period of time.

Meaning

Near the end of a period of time.

More Meanings

1. Specifically, near the end of the day.
2. (usually not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
3. Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
4. Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
5. Not having had an expected menstrual period.
6. (not comparable, euphemistic) Recently deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Generally must be preceded by a possessive or an article, commonly "the"; see usage notes. Can itself only precede the person's name, never follow it.)
7. (dated) Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.

Example Sentences

It was getting late and I was tired.

The heavy snow made all the trains late.

The meeting is convened for late morning.

Late Latin is less fully inflected than Classical Latin.

Word Forms

• later
• latest
• lates

Synonyms for late

Depending on context, synonyms include belatedly, tardy, erenow, freshly, deep, tardily.

Antonyms for late

Common opposites include early, mid, middle.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include latish, belated, tardy, tardily, belatedly, dead.

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