late

Universal Words adjective, adverb adjective (later, latest) 1 [onlybeforenoun] near the end of a period of time, a person's life, etc: in the late afternoon * in late summer * She married in her late twenties (= when she was 28 or 29). * In later life he started playing golf. * The school was built in the late 1970s. * a late Victorian house * his late plays / work * a late goal / penalty * The concert was cancelled at a very late stage. OPPEARLY 2 [notusuallybeforenoun] arriving, happening or done after the expected, arranged or usual time: I'm sorry I'm late. * She's late for work every day. * My flight was an hour late. * We apologize for the late arrival of this train. * Because of the cold weather the crops are later this year. * Interest will be charged for late payment. * Here is a late news flash. * Some children are very late developers. OPPEARLY 3 near the end of the day: Let's go home-it's getting late. * Look at the time-it's much later than I thought. * What are you doing up at this late hour? * What is the latest time I can have an appointment? * I've had too many late nights recently (= when I've gone to bed very late). OPPEARLY 4 [onlybeforenoun] (of a person) no longer alive: her late husband * the late Freddie Mercury lateness noun [U]: They apologized for the lateness of the train. * Despite the lateness of the hour, the children were not in bed. seealsoLATER, LATEST IDIOMS be too late happening after the time when it is possible to do sth: It's too late to save her now. * Buy now before it's too late. * I'm afraid you're too late to apply for the job. * The doctors did all they could, but it was too late. adverb (comparative later, no superlative) 1 after the expected, arranged or usual time: I got up late. * Can I stay up late tonight? * She has to work late tomorrow. * The big stores are open later on Thursdays. * She married late. * The birthday card arrived three days late. 2 near the end of a period of time, a person's life, etc: late in March / the afternoon * It happened late last century-in 1895 to be exact. * As late as (= as recently as) the 1950s, tuberculosis was still a fatal illness. * He became an author late in life. 3 near the end of the day: There's a good film on late. * Late that evening, there was a knock at the door. * Share prices fell early on but rose again late in the day. * They worked late into the night to finish the report. seealsoLATER OPPEARLY IDIOMS better late than never (saying) used especially when you, or sb else, arrive late, or when sth such as success happens late, to say that this is better than not coming or happening at all late in the day (disapproving) after the time when an action could be successful: He started working hard much too late in the day-he couldn't possibly catch up. late of... (formal) until recently working or living in the place mentioned: Professor Jones, late of Oxford University of late (formal) recently: I haven't seen him of late. * The situation has become more confusing of late. too late after the time when it is possible to do sth successfully: She's left it too late to apply for the job. * I realized the truth too late. moreatSOON ______________________________ GRAMMARPOINT late / lately Late and lately are both adverbs, but late is used with similar meanings to the adjective late, whereas lately can only mean 'recently': We arrived two hours late. * I haven't heard from him lately. Lately is usually used with a perfect tense of the verb. Look also at the idioms be too late (at the adjective) and too late (at the adverb). ______________________________