English
late
see also: LATE
Pronunciation Adjective

late (comparative later, superlative latest)

  1. Near the end of a period of time.
    It was late in the evening when we finally arrived.
  2. Specifically, near the end of the day.
    It was getting late and I was tired.
  3. (usually, not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
    Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.
  4. Not arriving until after an expected time.
    Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late.
    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.
  5. Not having had an expected menstrual period.
    I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?
  6. anchor deceased(not comparable, euphemistic) Deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Often used with "the"; see usage notes.)
    Her late husband had left her well provided for.
    The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.
  7. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
    the late bishop of London
    the late administration
  8. Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
    • 1595 December 9 (first known performance)​​, William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene i], page 23 ↗, column 1:
      OLd Iohn of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaſter,
      Haſt thou according to thy oath and band
      Brought hither Henry Herford thy bold ſon:
      Heere to make good yͤ boiſtrous late appeale,
      Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare,
      Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray?
    • 1914, Robert Frost, North of Boston, "A Hundred Collars":
      Lancaster bore him — such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother […]
  9. (astronomy, dated) Of a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

late (plural lates)

  1. (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
Antonyms Adverb

late (comparative later, superlative latest)

  1. After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
    We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.
  2. Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
    Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.
    The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair / What a scene!
  3. Not long ago; just now.
Synonyms Translations
LATE
Noun

late (uncountable)

  1. (pathology) Acronym of limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy a form of dementia.


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