Late Meaning
Late Definition & Usage
Occurring after the expected or usual time.
Examples
- "He was late to the meeting because of traffic."
- "I’m sorry for being late to the party."
- "The train arrived late due to a signal failure."
- "She arrived late at the concert, missing the opening act."
- "The class started late because the professor was delayed."
No longer alive; deceased.
Examples
- "Her late father was a well-known musician."
- "The late author’s books have been reissued."
- "They honored the late president with a moment of silence."
- "We had a memorial for my late grandmother last week."
- "The late Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered for her dedication."
Happening or existing in the recent past.
Examples
- "She has just come back from a late vacation."
- "I’ve been thinking about the late-night discussions we had."
- "They moved to the city after a late relocation from the country."
- "There was a late snowstorm last night."
- "Have you seen the late reports on the market trends?"
At or after the expected time; delayed.
Examples
- "I will arrive late to the dinner because of work."
- "She often stays late at the office to finish projects."
- "The team played late into the night during the finals."
- "The students submitted their assignments late, causing a delay in grading."
- "We had to wait for hours because the plane was running late."
Cultural Context
The word 'late' has various uses in English and can describe both time-related occurrences (such as being tardy) and refer to deceased individuals. It is commonly used to show respect or acknowledgment of someone who has passed, especially in the context of public figures.
The Late Arrival
Story
The Late Arrival
It was the night of the big event. Anna had been planning her presentation for weeks, rehearsing until the early hours of the morning. Her colleagues were already in the conference room when she rushed in, looking slightly out of breath. ‘I’m so sorry I’m late,’ she said, hoping the apology would be enough to cover up her embarrassment. ‘No worries, Anna,’ said her manager, smiling kindly. ‘We’ve just started.’ It was a cold night, and the streets had been filled with traffic, causing everyone to arrive a bit later than expected. Anna’s lateness wasn’t unusual for her. In fact, she had a habit of being tardy, always running behind schedule. She found herself constantly juggling last-minute tasks, missing deadlines, and apologizing for showing up late. As she set up her presentation materials, her mind wandered to the recent passing of her late grandmother. It had been a year, but the memories of their time together were still fresh in her mind. She glanced at her phone, where a text from her mother had just popped up: ‘Your late grandfather would have been so proud of you today.’ Anna smiled at the message, feeling the love and support from family, even from beyond the grave. During her presentation, Anna couldn’t help but think of the recent snowstorm, the late snowfall that had delayed her flight earlier in the week. It had felt like everything was conspiring to keep her from making it on time, but tonight, the stakes were higher. She couldn’t afford to let this project slip, and she was determined to make up for her tardiness with an outstanding performance. In the end, her presentation was a success. Afterward, she walked out of the room to find her colleagues gathered around, laughing and chatting. Despite the late start, the evening had been worth it. As Anna left the office that night, she reflected on the notion of time. Her grandmother’s passing had reminded her of how precious every moment was, and how being ‘late’ could mean more than just a matter of minutes—it could represent a lost opportunity, a moment that could never be recovered. But tonight, at least, she had shown up, and that made all the difference.
