Definition of "late"

late

/leɪt/

adjective
comparative later, superlative latest
1. Near the end of a period of time.
2. Specifically, near the end of the day.
3. (usually not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
4. Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
5. Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
6. Not having had an expected menstrual period.
  Quotations
  I am very worried. I am never late.
  1992 February 5, Larry Charles, Elaine Pope, “The Fix-Up”, in Seinfeld, spoken by Cynthia (Maggie Wheeler)
7. (not comparable, euphemistic) Deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Generally must be preceded by a possessive or an article, commonly "the"; see usage notes. Can itself only precede the person's name, never follow it.)
  Quotations
  To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling.
  1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 181
  This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it would be pushing up the daisies!
  1969 December 7, Monty Python, “Full Frontal Nudity, Dead Parrot sketch”, in Monty Python's Flying Circus, spoken by Mr Praline (John Cleese)
  The following public assemblies and public processions are excluded from the prohibition in paragraph 2: […] any public assembly or public procession in an open space that is held primarily to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew […]
  Order 3(ca)(i), Public Order (Prohibited Areas) Order 2009 (G.N. S 490/2009)
  “He is not my ‘late husband’. He is my husband,” she said, before discussing how the couple had managed to retain their independent identities while together.
  2022 December 14, Nadia Khomami, quoting Iman, “‘He’s not my “late” husband’: Iman speaks of grief over death of David Bowie”, in The Guardian‎
8. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
  Quotations
  By Edvvard Reynoldes, late Preacher to the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inne: And now Rector of the Church of Braunſton in Northamptonſhire.
  1640, Edvvard Reynoldes, A Treatise of the Passions and Facvlties of the Soul of Man. With the severall Dignities and Corruptions thereunto belonging., London: […] R. H. for Robert Bostock, […]
9. Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
  Quotations
  OLd Iohn of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaſter,Haſt thou according to thy oath and bandBrought hither Henry Herford thy bold ſon:Heere to make good yͤ boiſtrous late appeale,Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare,Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray?
  1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 1
  Lancaster bore him—such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother […]
  1914, Robert Frost, “A Hundred Collars”, in North of Boston
10. (astronomy) Of a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
noun
plural lates
1. (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
  Quotations
  At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on late as usual.
  2007, Paul W Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue
adverb
comparative later, superlative latest
1. After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
2. Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
3. Not long ago; just now, recently.
  Quotations
  He ſhall doe this, or elſe I doe recant / The pardon that I late pronounced heere.
  c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i], page 181, column 1
  Tears of the widower, when he sees⁠A late-lost form that sleep reveals,⁠And moves his doubtful arms, and feelsHer place is empty, fall like these; […]
  1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], canto XIII, page 20

Definition of "late"

late

adjective

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noun

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adverb

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