late / lāt/ • adj. 1. doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time: his late arrival she was half an hour late for her lunch appointment. 2. belonging or taking place near the end of a particular time or period: they won the game with a late goal. ∎  [attrib.] denoting the advanced stage of a period: the late 1960s arriving in the late afternoon. ∎  far on into the day or night: I'm sorry the call is so late it's too late for lunch. ∎  originating at a point well into an artistic period or artist's life: his highly abstracted late landscapes late Gothic style. ∎  flowering or ripening toward the end of the season: the last late chrysanthemums.3. (the/one's late) (of a specified person) no longer alive: the late William Jennings Bryan her late husband's grave. ∎  no longer having the specified status; former: a late colleague of mine.4. (latest) of recent date: the latest news.• adv. 1. after the expected, proper, or usual time: she arrived late.2. toward the end of a period: it happened late in 1984. ∎  at or until a time far into the day or night: now I'm old enough to stay up late. ∎  (later) at a time in the near future; afterward: I'll see you later later on it will be easier.3. (late of) formerly but not now living or working in a specified place or institution: Captain Falconer, late of the British army.• n. (the latest) the most recent news or fashion: have you heard the latest?PHRASES: at the latest no later than the time specified: all new cars will be required to meet this standard by 1997 at the latest.late in the game (or day) at a late stage in proceedings, esp. too late to be useful.of late recently: she'd been drinking too much of late.DERIVATIVES: late·ness n.