LATE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for LATE?

Need another word that means the same as “late”? Find 50 synonyms and 30 related words for “late” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Late” are: later, belated, tardy, former, previous, recent, behind time, behind schedule, behind, behindhand, dead, deceased, departed, lamented, passed away, passed on, lost, expired, gone, extinct, preceding, past, prior, earlier, sometime, one-time, ex-, erstwhile, old, defunct, precedent, foregoing, no longer extant, lately, latterly, of late, recently, deep, belatedly, tardily, after hours, after office hours, overtime, past the usual closing time, past the usual finishing time, past the usual stopping time, late at night

Late as an Adjective

Definitions of "Late" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “late” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Of the immediate past or just previous to the present time.
• No longer having the specified status; former.
• After the expected or usual time; delayed.
• Doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time.
• Of the immediate past.
• (used especially of persons) of the immediate past.
• Belonging or taking place far on in a particular period.
• Flowering or ripening towards the end of the season.
• At or toward an end or late period or stage of development.
• (of a specified person) no longer alive.
• Having died recently.
• Being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time.
• Denoting or belonging to the advanced stage of a historical period or cultural movement.
• Far on in the day or night.
• Of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages.

Synonyms of "Late" as an adjective (33 Words)

behind	Having the lower score or lagging position in a contest. Behind by two points.
behind schedule	Having the lower score or lagging position in a contest.
behind time	Having the lower score or lagging position in a contest.
behindhand	Behind schedule. You are miserably behindhand Mr Cole gave me a hint of it six weeks ago.
belated	Coming or happening later than should have been the case. A belated birthday card.
dead	Lacking acoustic resonance. A dead telephone line.
deceased	Dead. The deceased man s family.
defunct	No longer existing or functioning. A defunct organization.
departed	Dead. A dear departed relative.
earlier	Very young. A fashion popular in earlier times.
erstwhile	Former. The erstwhile president of the company.
ex-	Out of fashion.
expired	Having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time. An expired passport.
extinct	No longer in existence; lost or especially having died out leaving no living representatives. Threw his extinct cigarette into the stream.
foregoing	Especially of writing or speech; going before. The foregoing analysis of the economic class structure.
former	Of or occurring in the past. Her former boyfriend.
gone	Stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol. A bunch of real gone cats.
lamented	A conventional way of describing someone who has died or something that has ceased to exist. The late and much lamented Leonard Bernstein.
later	At or toward an end or late period or stage of development. Later medical science could have saved the child.
lost	Having lost your bearings confused as to time or place or personal identity. A lost prize.
no longer extant	Quantifier; used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns for indicating a complete or almost complete lack or zero quantity of.
old	Used informally especially for emphasis old adj of a very early stage in development. Old friendships.
one-time	Belonging to some prior time.
passed away	Of advancing the ball by throwing it.
passed on	Of advancing the ball by throwing it.
past	Gone by in time and no longer existing. The danger is now past.
precedent	Preceding in time, order, or significance. A precedent case.
preceding	Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office. The preceding pages.
previous	(used especially of persons) of the immediate past. She looked tired after her exertions of the previous evening.
prior	Earlier in time. He has a prior engagement this evening.
recent	New. His recent trip to Africa.
sometime	Belonging to some prior time. The sometime editor of the paper.
tardy	After the expected or usual time; delayed. Tardy children are sent to the principal.

Usage Examples of "Late" as an adjective

• They won the game with a late goal.
• A late development.
• A late colleague of mine.
• She was half an hour late for her lunch appointment.
• A late movie.
• His late arrival.
• I'm late for the plane.
• It's too late for sherry.
• Had a late breakfast.
• The late 1960s.
• An elegantly dressed woman in her late fifties.
• Late evening.
• Took a late flight.
• A later symptom of the disease.
• The last late chrysanthemums.
• Our late President is still very active.
• Late Gothic style.
• Her late husband.
• The train is late.
• Their late quarrel.
• Later medical science could have saved the child.
• I'm sorry the call is so late.
• A belated birthday card.
• The late phase of feudalism.
• Her late husband's grave.
• The late Francis Bacon.
• Late 18th century.

Late as an Adverb

Definitions of "Late" as an adverb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “late” as an adverb can have the following definitions:

• At an advanced age or stage.
• Far on in time; towards the end of a period.
• After the expected, proper, or usual time.
• Formerly but not now living or working in a specified place or institution.
• To an advanced time.
• At or until a time far on in the day or night.
• In the recent past.
• Later than usual or than expected.

Synonyms of "Late" as an adverb (17 Words)

after hours	Behind or in the rear.
after office hours	Happening at a time subsequent to a reference time.
behind schedule	In or to or toward the rear.
behind time	Of timepieces.
behindhand	In debt. A company that has been run behindhand for years.
belatedly	Later than should have been the case. The High Command had belatedly altered its tactics.
deep	Far down or in deeply. He swung the ball in deep.
late at night	In the recent past.
lately	In the recent past. Lately the rules have been enforced.
latterly	In the recent past. Latterly his painting has shown a new freedom of expression.
of late	Later than usual or than expected.
overtime	Beyond the regular time. His brain was working overtime.
past the usual closing time	So as to pass a given point.
past the usual finishing time	So as to pass a given point.
past the usual stopping time	So as to pass a given point.
recently	In the recent past. Until recently we had a female doctor.
tardily	Later than usual or than expected. Notice came so tardily that we almost missed the deadline.

Usage Examples of "Late" as an adverb

• Feeling better of late.
• Talked late into the evening.
• She arrived late.
• The children came late to school.
• As late as yesterday she was fine.
• The train arrived late.
• It happened late in 1994.
• Lately the rules have been enforced.
• Now I'm old enough to stay up late.
• I belatedly wished her a happy birthday.
• We awoke late.
• Mrs Halford, late of the County Records Office.

Associations of "Late" (30 Words)

adulthood	The state (and responsibilities) of a person who has attained maturity. The crucial years between adolescence and adulthood.
afternoon	In the afternoon every afternoon. I ll be back at three in the afternoon.
april	The month following March and preceding May.
back	The part of a garment that covers the back of your body. He leaned back in his chair.
behind	A kick that sends the ball over a behind line or a touch that sends it between the inner posts scoring one point. Ben led the way with Joe a short distance behind.
belated	After the expected or usual time; delayed. A belated apology.
deceased	The recently dead person in question. The deceased man s family.
dilatory	Intended to cause delay. They resorted to dilatory tactics forcing a postponement of peace talks.
doyen	A man who is the senior member of a group. He became the doyen of British physicists.
evening	An evening characterized by a particular event or activity. A couple in evening dress.
fifties	The decade from 1950 to 1959.
following	Immediately following in time or order. The following day.
forties	The decade from 1940 to 1949.
future	Bulk commodities bought or sold at an agreed price for delivery at a specified future date. We plan on getting married in the near future.
later	At or toward an end or late period or stage of development. Later medical science could have saved the child.
lazy	(of a river) slow-moving. He was too lazy to cook.
loosen	Make less strict. Loosen your collar and tie.
mature	Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used. On mature reflection he decided they should not go.
newly	Very recently. They are newly married.
night	A shortening of nightfall. He watched television every night.
posterior	Coming after in time or order; later. A date posterior to the first Reform Bill.
posthumous	(of a child) born after the death of its father. A posthumous book.
rear	Located in or toward the back or rear. To his rear was a group of figures.
sluggish	Not active or brisk. A sluggish worker.
sometime	At some indefinite or unstated time. You must come and have supper sometime.
subsequent	Coming after something in time; following. Subsequent developments.
tardy	Slow in action or response; sluggish. Tardy children are sent to the principal.
then	Subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors. Go left first then right.
timing	The regulation of occurrence, pace, or coordination to achieve a desired effect (as in music, theater, athletics, mechanics. One of the secrets of cricket is good timing.