Meaning

Near the end of a period of time..

Definitions by Sense

1. Near the end of a period of time.
2. Specifically, near the end of the day.
3. (usually not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
4. Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
5. Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
6. Not having had an expected menstrual period.
7. (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.)
8. (dated) Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.

Example Sentences

The seedlings appeared to be coming along nicely until a late frost killed them.

The meeting is convened for late morning.

In Southern U.S., "evening" is used for middle to late afternoon.

It was getting late and I was tired.

Late Latin is less fully inflected than Classical Latin.

The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.

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.

The heavy snow made all the trains late.

Word Forms

• later
• latest
• lates

Synonyms for late

Antonyms for late

Related Words

When Should You Use Late?

Use late when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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