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late

late

∞ 1.0
Arriving after the usual or expected time
  • adjective
  • /leɪt/
translation icon : tardío
  • Betty called to say she might be late, and I told her not to rush.
  • too late
  • a late bloomer
  • late-onset

Republican race about to shake with late entry?

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Examples

Synonyms

overdue
vslate
103 2.7

Not done, paid, or returned by the expected time

is the general sense of occurring after expected time without payment focus
tardy
vslate
25 3.9

Arriving or happening later than expected

is the common neutral word for occurring after the expected time
belated
vslate
18 4.4

Happening or arriving later than expected

is the basic idea of happening after the expected time itself
fashionably late
vslate
6 4.8

Arriving a little after the set time on purpose to look stylish

is the neutral timing concept without intentional social or stylish motive
long in coming
vslate
2 6.9

Happening after a long delay

is the normal idea of happening after expected time, not emphasizing length
delayed
vslate
1 1.3

Slower than usual in development or learning

covers timing after expectation rather than focusing on slow progress
behind time
vslate
  • Indian
1 3.2

Not arriving or starting at the expected time

is the general notion of happening after the usual or expected time
behindhand
vslate
  • Archaic
8.9

Late in doing something, especially in paying money you owe

is broader, applying to arrival or timing beyond obligations alone
unpunctual
vslate
6.2

Being late for the agreed time instead of arriving or starting on time

is about timing rather than judging habitual punctuality
nonpunctual
vslate
5.5

Not arriving or happening on time

is the single act of happening after the expected time, not habit

Antonyms

early
∞ 1.0

Near the beginning of a period, for example childhood

on time
321 1.0

At the expected time

punctual
27 3.2

On time for a meeting or event

Idioms

of late
91 3.3

Happening in the recent past, in the last few weeks or months

late into the night
27 2.7

Until very late at night

as of late
16 3.5

Recently, in the past few weeks or months

late to the party
  • Informal
8 7.1

Joining after others have already started something important

fashionably late
6 4.8

Arriving a little after the set time on purpose to look stylish

late for one's own funeral
  • Informal
1 8.8

Very likely to arrive after the expected time because they are often not on time

Compounds

late-night
84 3.9

Happening or done after most people go to bed

late night
42 2.0

A time late in the evening when people stay awake to work or finish tasks

late bloomer
11 4.6

A person who shows skill or talent later than others

late model
11 3.9

A recent car or truck made in the last few years

late fee
10 3.1

An extra charge you pay when a payment is late

tad late
  • Informal
1 7.6

A little after the time you should arrive

late-night hour
1 3.7

The late part of the night when most people are asleep

late-night karaoke
1 4.6

A time when people sing with recorded music in a bar late at night

late blight
  • Specialized
7.3

A serious plant disease that attacks potatoes and tomatoes late in the growing season

late purple aster
  • US
9.9

A wildflower that has purple flowers like a daisy in late summer and fall

late unpleasantness
  • Literature
9.0

A recent time of trouble or bad events

late-blooming
4.7

A plant that flowers later than most, often in autumn

late-blooming
4.8

Something that develops or succeeds later than usual

Late Greek
  • Specialized
9.5

A form of Greek used from the third to the eighth centuries

Late Greek language
  • Specialized
9.9

A form of Greek used in speech and writing from the 3rd to the 8th centuries AD

Late Latin
  • Specialized
9.9

A form of Latin used from the 3rd to the 8th century that links Classical and Medieval Latin

late-night dance marathon
5.5

A long party where people dance late at night for many hours

late-flowering
4.4

Plants that bloom late in the growing season, often in autumn

late-flowering
6.8

Show important talent or success later than usual in life

late-ripening
  • Specialized
5.6

A plant or fruit that becomes ripe late in the growing season, often in fall

late-spring-blooming
  • Specialized
3.9

A plant that has flowers in the later part of spring

motherfunking late
  • Offensive
9.9

Arriving much later than expected and making people angry

the late unpleasantness
  • Archaic
9.9

A polite or ironic name for the American Civil War

How Late

overdue
103 2.7
late
∞ 1.0
tardy
25 3.9

Surface Forms

late positive
later comparative
latest superlative

Etymology

Late as an adjective comes from the old word læt meaning 'slow', so it describes something that is delayed or that happens 'after the usual' time. That's why a late train comes after the planned time.