Late means arriving, happening, or being done after the expected or proper time. When you're late for school, you arrive after the bell rings. When a library book is late, you return it after its due date. When dinner is served late, everyone eats later than usual.

Being late can cause problems because other people are counting on you. If you're late to soccer practice, your team might start drills without you. If a birthday gift arrives late, the party has already happened. Sometimes being late is unavoidable: traffic jams, unexpected delays, or genuine emergencies.

The word late can also describe something near the end of a period. Late afternoon means the hours before evening arrives. The late 1800s refers to roughly 1870-1899. Late summer describes August and early September, when you can feel autumn approaching.

Finally, late describes someone who has died, used respectfully when speaking about them: “My late grandfather loved woodworking.” This usage acknowledges they're no longer living while honoring their memory.

The opposite of late is early or on time. When you arrive early, you're there before the expected moment. When you're on time, you arrive exactly when you should be there.