late
gb/lˈeɪt/ us/lˈeɪt/
A1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
After the usual or expected time
Happening or coming after the time that was planned or expected.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is late for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'late' with 'later'; 'late' describes missing the expected time, while 'later' refers to a point in the future.
Synonyms
tardy (More formal or old-fashioned; often used in school or official contexts.)
Antonyms
early (Refers to happening before the expected or planned time.)
Collocations
running late
|late arrival
|late payment
|late bus
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was late for the meeting because of traffic.
- The train arrived twenty minutes late.
- I’m sorry I’m late; my alarm didn’t go off.
- He’s always late to class.
- Your payment is three days late.
Learner examples
- I am late for school.
- The bus is late today.
- She comes late every day.
- He is late for work.
adverb
A1
property
2
After the expected or planned time
After the time that was planned or expected.
Usage pattern:
[do something] late
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'late' (adverb) with 'lately', which means 'recently'.
Synonyms
tardily (Formal and rarely used; mainly in written contexts.)
Antonyms
early (At a time before what is expected or planned.)
Collocations
stay up late
|arrive late
|work late
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We stayed up late watching movies.
- He arrived late to the party.
- The store opens late on Sundays.
- She works late most evenings.
Learner examples
- I sleep late on weekends.
- He came late to class.
- We eat dinner late.
- They arrived late at night.
adjective
A2
property
3
Near the end of a period of time
Happening near the end of a certain time or stage.
Synonyms
final (Emphasizes being last in a sequence, not just near the end.)
Antonyms
early (Happening near the beginning of a period of time.)
Collocations
late afternoon
|late 20th century
|late summer
Themes
time
|history
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We met in the late afternoon.
- The company was founded in the late 1990s.
- Late summer is my favorite season.
Learner examples
- I eat lunch in the late afternoon.
- It happened in the late 1990s.
- We go swimming in late summer.
adjective
B1
property
4
No longer alive, recently dead
Used to talk about someone who has died not long ago.
Usage pattern:
the late [person's name]
Synonyms
deceased (More formal and legal-sounding; not limited to recent death.)
Antonyms
alive (Living; opposite of dead.)
Collocations
the late president
|her late husband
Themes
life and death
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The award was given to the late Dr. Smith.
- Her late husband was a kind man.
- I was a fan of the late actor.
Learner examples
- The late singer had many fans.
- Her late father loved music.
- The award is for the late teacher.
adjective
B1
property
5
Happening after usual stage or age
Happening after the normal or usual time for something to develop or happen.
Synonyms
belated (Often used for things like greetings or apologies; less about natural development stages.)
Antonyms
early (Happening before the normal stage or age.)
Collocations
late bloomer
|late start
Themes
development
|science
|health
Examples
- He was a late bloomer in school.
- She made a late career change into teaching.
- They had a late start to their journey.
Learner examples
- He is a late bloomer in sports.
- She started her job at a late age.
- They had a late start this morning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
late
IPA
GB/lˈeɪt/
US/lˈeɪt/
Syllables & stress
late (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (late)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: late
- Comparative: later
- Superlative: latest
Word family
Expressions
at the latest
1/ˈæt ðə lˈeɪtɪst/
fixed phrase
No later than a stated time limit
No later than the stated time.
Examples
- Please hand in your report by Friday at the latest.
- We should arrive by 8 p.m. at the latest.
late in the day
1/lˈeɪt ˈɪn ðə dˈeɪ/
idiom
Too close to the end to be useful or effective
Too near the end of something for it to make much difference.
Examples
- It’s a bit late in the day to change our plans now.
- He decided to join the project rather late in the day.
running late
1/ɹˈʌnɪŋ lˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Behind schedule and delayed
To be behind the planned time and likely to arrive or finish later than expected.
Examples
- Sorry, I’m running late because of traffic.
- We’re running late, so let’s take a taxi.
up late
1/ˈʌp lˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Awake until a late hour at night
To stay awake until a time much later than usual at night.
Examples
- I was up late finishing my homework.
- She’s been up late watching TV all week.
better late than never
1/bˈɛtɚ lˈeɪt ðən nˈɛvɚ/
idiom
Doing something late is better than not at all
It is better to do something late than to not do it at all.
Examples
- He finally apologized—better late than never.
- They arrived after the movie started, but better late than never.
- I know I’m sending this card weeks after your birthday, but better late than never.