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Late or lately?

Late is both an adverb and an adjective; it means the opposite of early. Lately is also an adverb; it means ‘recently’.

Late meaning ‘not on time’​

Late as an adverb means ‘not on time’:

  • Well, I couldn’t find my classroom, so I got to the classroom a bit late and then I had to sing a song in front of the other students!

  • Not: I got to the classroom a bit lately …

  • The programme started late.

  • Not: The programme started lately.

Late as an adjective means ‘after the usual time’:

  • We had a late breakfast.

Compare

We got the train home late.describes when the activity happened
I got the late train home.describes the train

Lately meaning ‘recently’​

We use lately for states or for repeated events, mostly with the present perfect:

  • She says she’s been feeling tired lately. I think she’s working too much.
  • He’s been studying hard lately. He’s got exams at the end of the month.
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We don’t use lately for single events that happened recently:

  • I had a strange experience recently.
  • Not: I had a strange experience lately.
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We don’t use lately as an adjective:

  • We usually have a late lunch.
  • Not: … a lately lunch.
See also
  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs