# later /ˈɫeɪtɝ/ (US) · /lˈeɪtɐ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/later Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. afterward adverb · CEFR A2 at a time after now or after the time you are talking about. For teachers: at a subsequent time or at a period following the present or a specified point. - I am busy right now, but I can call you back later this afternoon. - The CEO initially declined to comment on the merger but later issued a formal statement to the press. Usage: Often used with 'than' to compare two specific times. ### 2. in the future adverb · CEFR A2 at some unknown or unstated time in the future. For teachers: at an unspecified future time. - We should definitely go to that new Italian restaurant later this year. - The researchers hope to apply these preliminary findings to a much larger study later in the decade. Usage: Frequently appears in the phrase 'sooner or later'. ### 3. more late adjective · CEFR A2 happening or coming after the expected time, or near the end of a period. For teachers: the comparative form of 'late', referring to a point further toward the end of a period or after a deadline. - The later train is usually much less crowded than the one at eight o'clock. - The later editions of the textbook include updated chapters on digital ethics and global surveillance. Usage: As an adjective, it usually precedes the noun it modifies. ## Examples - The later train is usually less crowded. - The artist's later paintings are much more abstract than the realistic portraits he created as a young man. - While the early chapters of the book focus on the protagonist's childhood, the later sections explore the complex political landscape of his adult life in the capital. --- 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.