Late vs. Lately

Near the end of a period of time.

Example: ‘It was late in the evening when we finally arrived.’;

Specifically, near the end of the day.

Example: ‘It was getting late and I was tired.’;

Associated with the end of a period.

Example: ‘Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.’;

Not arriving until after an expected time.

Example: ‘Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late.’; ‘Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.’;

Not having had an expected menstrual period.

Example: ‘I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?’;

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Example: ‘Her late husband had left her well provided for.’; ‘The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.’;

Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.

Example: ‘the late bishop of London’; ‘the late administration’;

Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.

(informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.

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.’; ‘The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair / What a scene! ’; ‘— "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", The Beatles’;

Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring.

Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late period of life.

Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; recently deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.

Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence.

Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late revels; a late watcher.

After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; - opposed to early.

Not long ago; lately.

Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time;

Example: ‘late evening’; ‘late 18th century’; ‘a late movie’; ‘took a late flight’; ‘had a late breakfast’; ‘in the middle years’; ‘in his middle thirties’;

after the expected or usual time; delayed;

Example: ‘a belated birthday card’; ‘I'm late for the plane’; ‘the train is late’; ‘tardy children are sent to the principal’; ‘always tardy in making dental appointments’;

of the immediate past or just previous to the present time;

Example: ‘a late development’; ‘their late quarrel’; ‘his recent trip to Africa’; ‘in recent months’; ‘a recent issue of the journal’;

having died recently;

Example: ‘her late husband’;

of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages;

Example: ‘Late Greek’; ‘Middle English is the English language from about 1100 to 1500’; ‘Middle Gaelic’;

at or toward an end or late period or stage of development;

Example: ‘the late phase of feudalism’; ‘a later symptom of the disease’; ‘later medical science could have saved the child’;

(used especially of persons) of the immediate past;

Example: ‘the former president’; ‘our late President is still very active’; ‘the previous occupant of the White House’;

later than usual or than expected;

Example: ‘the train arrived late’; ‘we awoke late’; ‘the children came late to school’; ‘notice came so tardily that we almost missed the deadline’; ‘I belatedly wished her a happy birthday’;

to an advanced time;

Example: ‘deep into the night’; ‘talked late into the evening’;

at an advanced age or stage;

Example: ‘she married late’; ‘undertook the project late in her career’;

in the recent past;

Example: ‘he was in Paris recently’; ‘lately the rules have been enforced’; ‘as late as yesterday she was fine’; ‘feeling better of late’; ‘the spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also’;

Recently; not long ago; of late.

Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.

in the recent past;

Example: ‘he was in Paris recently’; ‘lately the rules have been enforced’; ‘as late as yesterday she was fine’; ‘feeling better of late’; ‘the spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also’;

recently; not long ago

Example: ‘she hasn't been looking too well lately’;