Late Definition
late
adverb
- later than usual or than expected; "the train arrived late"; "we awoke late"; "the children came late to school"; "notice came so tardily that we almost missed the deadline"; "I belatedly wished her a happy birthday"
- to an advanced time; "deep into the night"; "talked late into the evening"
- at an advanced age or stage; "she married late"; "undertook the project late in her career"
- in the recent past; "he was in Paris recently"; "lately the rules have been enforced"; "as late as yesterday she was fine"; "feeling better of late"; "the spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also"
adjective
- being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a late breakfast"
- after the expected or usual time; delayed; "a belated birthday card"; "I'm late for the plane"; "the train is late"; "tardy children are sent to the principal"; "always tardy in making dental appointments"
- of the immediate past or just previous to the present time; "a late development"; "their late quarrel"; "his recent trip to Africa"; "in recent months"; "a recent issue of the journal"
- having died recently; "her late husband"
- of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late Greek"
- at or toward an end or late period or stage of development; "the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the disease"; "later medical science could have saved the child"
- (used especially of persons) of the immediate past; "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"
"Late" in song lyrics
See how late is used in real songs:
-
"Open your eyes up, you wised up, too late"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Cheesey Rat, Crunch Lo, Diverse — Revelations -
"You have to get yourself together before it's too late"
2 Live Crew — Revelation -
"Get down... yo before it's too late"
2nd II None f/ AMG, James DeBarge — Whateva U Want
Words that rhyme with late
Usage tips for "late"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "late" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for late to find words that pair well.