# late

/ˈɫeɪt/ (US) · /lˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/late
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. after the expected time

adjective · CEFR A1

happening or arriving after the time that was planned or expected.

For teachers: occurring, arriving, or happening after the scheduled, expected, or usual time.

- I am sorry I am late for the lesson; the bus was delayed by traffic.
- The project manager expressed frustration when the lead architect arrived late to the final briefing, citing a minor scheduling conflict.

### 2. near the end of a period

adjective · CEFR A2

happening near the end of a day, a year, or a person's life.

For teachers: occurring or situated near the end of a particular interval of time or a historical period.

- We went for a walk in the late afternoon when the sun was lower.
- The late nineteenth century saw a rapid expansion of railway networks across the continent, fundamentally altering trade routes.

### 3. deceased

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

a polite way to talk about someone who has died recently.

For teachers: used euphemistically to refer to a person who is deceased, typically preceded by 'the' or a possessive pronoun.

- The late king was well-loved by all the people in his country.
- In her moving tribute, the professor spoke warmly of her late colleague's contributions to the field of linguistics.

Usage: This sense is attributive only; it must appear before the noun (e.g., 'the late Mr. Smith') and cannot follow a verb.

### 4. past the scheduled time

adverb · CEFR A1

doing something after the time it should have been done.

For teachers: at a point in time after the expected or usual hour; behind schedule.

- He stayed up late to finish his homework before the deadline.
- The flight arrived so late that the passengers missed their connecting flight to Singapore.

### 5. a work shift

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a period of work that happens in the evening or at night.

For teachers: a scheduled period of work occurring late in the day or during the night.

- I can't come to the party because I'm working the late tonight.
- Hospital staff often prefer the late because it allows them to handle personal errands during daylight hours.

## Examples

- I am sorry for being late to the meeting.
- The train was ten minutes late due to heavy snow on the tracks this morning.
- Despite the logistical hurdles and the late hour of the arrival, the team managed to secure the perimeter before the storm intensified.

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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.