late
late — adjective
1. happening or existing closer to the finish of a day, season, era, or stage of li
happening or existing closer to the finish of a day, season, era, or stage of life than to its start.
We went for a long walk in the late afternoon sunshine.
collocation: late afternoon / late spring / late 19th century
Ritu's grandfather learned to paint landscapes in his late seventies.
The cherry trees along the river bloom in late March every year.
This old railway bridge was built in the late eighteen hundreds.
Élise signed up for a pottery class in late August before the fall term started.
- early
the opposite end of a time period
文法句型
late + [time period noun]
2. arriving or taking place after the moment that was agreed, scheduled, or conside
arriving or taking place after the moment that was agreed, scheduled, or considered normal.
The train arrived twenty minutes late because of the heavy snow.
pattern: [time quantity] + late
Naoko sent a quick apology for being late to the team meeting.
collocation: late to + [event] / late for + [event]
The landlord charged Kabir a fee for his late rent payment last month.
Several students were late to class because the school bus broke down.
Christopher's late arrival at the airport meant he missed his flight to Osaka.
文法句型
[quantity] + late
late for + [event]
用法筆記
Time measurements come immediately before 'late' — 'ten minutes late,' 'an hour late.' Do not insert 'for' between the time and 'late': ❌ 'I was late for ten minutes' ✅ 'I was ten minutes late.'
常見錯誤
3. relating to a football tackle that reaches the opponent once the ball is already
relating to a football tackle that reaches the opponent once the ball is already gone, making contact with the player instead of the ball.
The referee showed a yellow card for the late tackle on Lucía.
football term: late tackle
Tendai's late tackle on the striker earned him a warning from the coach.
Samir's late tackle on the winger in the last minute earned him a yellow card.
The defender's late tackle inside the box gave the other team a penalty kick.
文法句型
late + tackle
用法筆記
This sense is used only in football (soccer), always before the noun 'tackle.' Common in British sports commentary but rare in everyday conversation.
4. placed before a person's name or title to show that they are no longer alive, of
placed before a person's name or title to show that they are no longer alive, often used when speaking with respect.
The late Mr. Chen taught history at our school for over thirty years.
pattern: the late + [name] for a deceased person
A scholarship fund was created in honor of the late Dr. Okafor.
Lakshmi still uses the spice blend that her late grandmother taught her to make.
The town library was renamed after the late mayor who served for four decades.
Hoa visits the grave of her late husband every Sunday before breakfast.
- living
alive; still alive
文法句型
the late + [name/title]
用法筆記
Always used before a noun or name (attributive position). Never used after a linking verb — ❌ 'My uncle is late' ✅ 'My late uncle was a doctor.' Typically respectful; use with people only, not animals or objects.
常見錯誤
late — adverb
1. at a time later than the one that was agreed, expected, or usual.
at a time later than the one that was agreed, expected, or usual.
The mail normally comes before lunch, but today it arrived late.
adverb modifying arrive: arrived late
Allison handed in her history report three days late, so the teacher deducted five points.
Megan opened her birthday gifts late because she was waiting for her cousin.
The conference started late because the keynote speaker was stuck in traffic.
Sahil's plane landed late, so he took a taxi instead of the airport bus.
- behind schedule
slightly more formal; often used for events or transport
- belatedly
formal; used for actions that should have happened earlier
文法句型
arrive late
start late
finish late
常見錯誤
2. at a point that is far into the night or far along within a particular period, s
at a point that is far into the night or far along within a particular period, such as a person's life.
The children stayed up late watching movies on New Year's Eve.
pattern: stay up late
Joaquín often works late at the office when a deadline is approaching.
pattern: work late
The party went on quite late, and the neighbors complained about the noise.
Chidi did not get married until late in life, at the age of forty-eight.
Mayumi liked to go for a run late in the evening when the streets were empty.
- deep into the night
more emphatic; conveys a stronger sense of very far along
- early
near the beginning of a period, especially the night
文法句型
stay up late
work late
late at night
late in + [period]
用法筆記
This sense is common in phrases like 'stay up late,' 'work late,' 'late at night,' and 'late in life.' It describes how far into a time period something happens, not whether it is past a deadline.
常見錯誤
3. used with 'as' to show that something was still happening at a surprisingly rece
used with 'as' to show that something was still happening at a surprisingly recent point in time.
Village farmers still harvested rice by hand as late as the nineteen eighties.
pattern: as late as [time] meaning recently
Tamar saw Professor Yamada at the supermarket as late as last Wednesday.
The old factory was still producing furniture as late as 2010.
Mira visited the public library as late as last month before it closed for renovation.
- recently
more general and widely used; does not emphasize a cutoff point
- not long ago
more informal; used in everyday speech
文法句型
as late as + [time reference]
用法筆記
Most common in the fixed pattern 'as late as [time or event].' Not interchangeable with the adverb 'lately,' which means 'in recent times generally' — compare 'I saw her as late as yesterday' (a specific recent moment) with 'I have not seen her lately' (a general recent period).