Word Explorer

Late

/leɪt/

A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.

📖 Definitions of "Late"

noun

adjective

1
Near the end of a period of time.
"It was late in the evening when we finally arrived."
2
Specifically, near the end of the day.
"It was getting late and I was tired."
3
(usually not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
"Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin."
4
Not arriving until after an expected time.
"Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late."

adverb

1
After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
"We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late."
2
Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
"Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party."
3
Not long ago; just now.

21 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
deepnoun	(of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.
tardily	in a tardy fashion; belatedly; late
newnoun	Recently made, or created.
modernnoun	Pertaining to a current or recent time and style; not ancient.
ripenoun	Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.
posthumous	After the death of someone.
formernoun	Previous.
previousnoun	(not comparable) Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
advanced	At or close to the state of the art.
recently	In the recent past
lately	Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since.
later	Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
belated	Later in relation to the proper time something should have happened.
belatedly	In a belated manner; tardily.
latterly	In a latter manner
latish	(informal) Somewhat late
of late	in the recent past
after-hours	Taking place after legal closing time.
unpunctual	Not punctual.
recentnoun	Having happened a short while ago.
tardynoun	Late; overdue or delayed.

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
earlynoun	Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
middlenoun	A centre, midpoint.
too soon	In a taboo or otherwise inappropriate manner due to timing; inappropriately related to a tragic or unpleasant recent event.
ahead of time	before the usual time or the time expected

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
latish	(informal) Somewhat late
belated	Later in relation to the proper time something should have happened.
tardynoun	Late; overdue or delayed.
tardily	in a tardy fashion; belatedly; late
belatedly	In a belated manner; tardily.
deadnoun	(usually not comparable) No longer living; deceased. (Also used as a noun.)
lastverb	Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.
deepnoun	(of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.
unpunctual	Not punctual.
latternoun	Relating to or being the second of two items.
latterly	In a latter manner
recently	In the recent past
recentnoun	Having happened a short while ago.
lately	Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since.
newnoun	Recently made, or created.
ripenoun	Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.
pastnoun	The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
formernoun	Previous.
previousnoun	(not comparable) Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
advanced	At or close to the state of the art.