# see you later

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/see-you-later
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.

## Examples

- I have to go now, see you later.
- She waved from the doorway and called out, see you later, even though she knew they would not meet again for months.
- As the train pulled away from the platform, he offered a casual see you later to the stranger, fully aware that their paths would likely never cross again.

## Origin

Formed as an ellipsis of the phrases *I will see you later* or *I hope to see you later*. It functions as a conventional shortening of the full declarative sentence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.