English Reference
Idiom idiom

run late


To be late; to fail to be on time.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I am sorry, but I am running late for our meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

The bus broke down on the highway, so I am going to run late for my appointment.

COMPLEX

Because the heavy traffic caused the train to run late, the entire conference schedule had to be adjusted to accommodate the delayed speakers.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a day late and a dollar short

    Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

  2. 02

    as of late

    Lately; recently.

  3. 03

    break into a run

    To start running.

  4. 04

    common run

    Ordinary persons, things, or events.

  5. 05

    dry run

    A practice or rehearsal; especially, one that goes through all the motions of a physical process but without the raw material or workpiece present.

  6. 06

    dummy run

    A trial or practice before the real attempt.

  7. 07

    fashionably late

    Arriving behind time to an event which does not normally require one to be punctual.

  8. 08

    get late

    To approach nighttime.

Last updated August 10, 2026