later Definition

late
adj later, latest

1. Coming, arriving, etc after the expected or usual time.

Thesaurus: overdue, belated, delayed, tardy, behind, slow; Antonym: early, punctual.
2a. Far on in the day or night;

Example: late afternoon
2b. Well into the evening or night;
2c. Occurring towards the end of a specified historical period, etc;

Example: late-Georgian architecture
2d. Written, painted, etc towards the end of someone's life or towards the end of their active career.

Example: a late Picasso
3. Happening, growing, etc at a relatively advanced time.

Example: Let's go to the late showing
4. Dead.

Example: his late father
Thesaurus: dead, deceased, defunct, departed.
5. Former.

Example: the late prime minister
6. Recent.

Example: quite a late model of car
Thesaurus: recent, up-to-the-minute, last-minute, fresh.

adverb

1. After the expected or usual time.

Example: He arrived late for the meeting
2. Far on in the day or night.

Example: He arrived late on Thursday
3. At an advanced time.

Example: flower late in the season
Thesaurus: belatedly, slowly, tardily; Antonym: early, punctually.
4. Recently.

Example: The letter was sent as late as this morning
5. Formerly, but no longer.

Example: late of Glasgow

Derivative: lately

See separate entry.

Derivative: lateness
noun

Derivative: later

See separate entries.

Idiom: better late than never

Said of an event, arrival, occurrence, etc: preferable that it should happen at some late point in time than not at all.

Idiom: late in the day

At a late stage, especially when it is too late to be of any use.

Idiom: late in life

Happening later in someone's life than is usual or expected.
Example: married late in life

Idiom: of late

Lately; recently.
Example: There has been some unpleasantness of late, but it has now been resolved

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon læt.

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later
adj

1. More late.

adverb

1. At some time after, or in the near future.

Thesaurus: after, afterwards, thereafter.

Idiom: later on

At some unspecified time in the future.
Example: I'll tidy up later on

Idiom: see you later (catch you later)

colloq
Goodbye.

Etymology: 16c:.

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sooner
adverb

1. Earlier than previously thought.
2. Preferably.

Example: I'd sooner die than go back there

Idiom: no sooner ... than ...

Immediately after ... then ....
Example: No sooner had I mentioned his name than he appeared

Idiom: no sooner said than done

Said of a request, promise, etc: immediately fulfilled.

Idiom: sooner or later

Eventually.