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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Late – Definition, Examples, and Usage Tips (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：tardy (Late)

Late 🔊

/leɪt/

adj., adv.

Arriving or happening after the expected or usual time.

tardy 🔊

➕

/ˈtɑːrdi/

adj., adv.

Arriving or happening after the expected or usual time.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'læt' meaning slow or tardy; related to Dutch 'laat' and German 'lass'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'late' as 'let' time pass by, causing delay or ending.

📖 Example

I overslept and missed my bus, so I was late for work. 🔊 I overslept and missed my bus, so I was late for work.

🔗 Collocations

be late for – to arrive after the scheduled time for an event

late arrival – an arrival that occurs after the expected time

🔄 Synonyms

tardy (adj.) – slow to move or happen; delayed

overdue (adj.) – not having arrived or been done at the expected or required time

🚫 Antonyms

early (adj.) – happening or done before the usual or expected time

punctual (adj.) – being on time

🌱 Derivatives

lateness (n.) – the quality of being late

📖 Cultural Story

The use of 'late' to mean 'recently deceased' dates back to the 15th century, originally meaning 'recently' but later specialized to refer to the dead.

Meaning 2：far into the night (Late)

Late 🔊

/leɪt/

adj., adv.

Near the end of a period of time, especially near the end of the day.

Late meaning: far into night – cozy room with person reading under lamp

far into the night 🔊

➕

/fɑːr ˈɪntuː ðə naɪt/

adj., adv.

Near the end of a period of time, especially near the end of the day or night.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We stayed up late last night watching our favorite series. 🔊 We stayed up late last night watching our favorite series.

🔗 Collocations

stay up late – to remain awake until late at night

late night – the later part of the night, often associated with activities after midnight

🔄 Synonyms

nocturnal (adj.) – active at night

last-minute (adj.) – at the latest possible time

🚫 Antonyms

early (adj.) – happening in the early part of the night or day

morning (n.) – the early part of the day

🌱 Derivatives

late-night (adj.) – taking place or operating late at night

Meaning 3：deceased (Late)

Late 🔊

/leɪt/

adj., adv.

(Used before a name) no longer alive.

deceased 🔊

➕

/dɪˈsiːst/

adj., adv.

No longer alive; used before a name to indicate that the person is dead.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I still remember the wise advice from my late grandfather. 🔊 I still remember the wise advice from my late grandfather.

🔗 Collocations

the late Mr. Smith – a formal way to refer to a deceased man named Smith

late husband – the woman's husband who has died

🔄 Synonyms

deceased (adj.) – dead; no longer living

departed (adj.) – dead, often used euphemistically

🚫 Antonyms

living (adj.) – alive; having life

surviving (adj.) – remaining alive, especially after the death of someone else