late: meaning and words from its letters
4 letters · 4 letter points · starts with L · ends with E
Meaning of late
adj
Near the end of a period of time.
Example: The seedlings appeared to be coming along nicely until a late frost killed them.
Specifically, near the end of the day.
Example: It was getting late and I was tired.
- not-comparable, usually
Associated with the end of a period.
Example: Late Latin is less fully inflected than Classical Latin.
Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
Example: The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.
Source: Wiktionary — late.
noun
- informal
A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
Listed forms: lates.
Source: Wiktionary — late.
adv
After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
Example: We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.
Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
Example: Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.
Not long ago; just now, recently.
Source: Wiktionary — late.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for late.
adjective
after the expected or usual time; delayed
adjective
of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
adjective
at or toward an end or late period or stage of development
adjective
(used especially of persons) of the immediate past
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is late in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of late
L(1) + A(1) + T(1) + E(1) = 4 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of late
3 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
Shorter words from late
16 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in late. Showing up to 24, longest first.