late

Happening or arriving after the expected or agreed time.

• The bus is late.
• She was ten minutes late for the meeting.
• Why are your payments always late?

How to use it: be late for something (I was late for school.); be late doing something (We were late leaving the house.)

Similar words: delayed, overdue

Opposites: early, punctual

Common phrases: late arrival, late payment, late for something, ten minutes late

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

• The bus is late.
• We were ten minutes late for dinner.
• Why is your payment late again?

How to use it: late for something (I was late for class.); late in doing something (The company was late in paying its workers.)

Similar words: delayed, overdue

Opposites: early, on time

Common phrases: late train, late payment, be late

Happening or existing near the end of a day, season, or other period.

• We met in the late afternoon.
• The trees lose their leaves in late autumn.
• She started studying medicine in her late twenties.

Opposites: early

Common phrases: late afternoon, late summer, late twenties

Used before someone's name or relationship to say that they have died.

• This ring belonged to my late mother.
• Her late husband loved gardening.
• The library was named after the late president.

Similar words: deceased

Common phrases: late husband, late father, late president, late wife

After the time when something should happen.

• The train arrived late.
• I handed in my homework two days late.
• Did the concert start late?

Similar words: behind schedule

Opposites: early, on time

Common phrases: arrive late, come late, start late

At a time far into the evening or night.

• We stayed up late.
• She often works late on Fridays.
• Don't call him late at night.

Opposites: early

Common phrases: stay late, work late, up late

Previously belonging to a particular group or working in a particular place.

• Major Hill, late of the army, spoke first.
• We met Colonel Shaw, late of the Fourth Regiment.
• The guest was Captain Bell, late of the royal fleet.

How to use it: late of something (Captain Reed, late of the navy, joined us for dinner.)

Similar words: formerly, previously

Common phrases: late of something, late of the army