| adjective | being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time “late evening” |
| adjective | after the expected or usual time; delayed “a belated birthday card” |
| adjective | of the immediate past or just previous to the present time “a late development” |
| adjective | having died recently “her late husband” |
| adjective | of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages “Late Greek” |
| adjective | at or toward an end or late period or stage of development “the late phase of feudalism” |
| adjective | (used especially of persons) of the immediate past “the former president” |
| adverb | later than usual or than expected “the train arrived late” |
| adverb | to an advanced time “deep into the night” |
| adverb | at an advanced age or stage “she married late” |
| adverb | in the recent past “he was in Paris recently” |
| lateness | noun | quality of coming late or later in time |
| tardiness | noun | the quality or habit of not adhering to a correct or usual or expected time |
| recency | noun | the property of having happened or appeared not long ago |
| recentness | noun | a time immediately before the present |