Dictionary

lately en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈleɪt.li/

Etymology

From Middle English lately, latly, equivalent to late + -ly. Compare Old English lætlīċe (“slowly, tardily”), Middle Low German lātlîk (“careless, slack, sloppy”).

Meanings

1. Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since.
   • Ant. […]I am content : ſo he will let me haue / The other halfe in vſe, to render it / Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman / That lately ſtole his daughter. / Two things prouided more,[…] c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 181:
   • It's only lately that I've been well enough to get out of bed.
   • I'd lately returned from Japan.
2. (slang) In a late manner; after-the-fact.
   • Don't try to come lately and change your answer now after you've heard everyone else's response.
3. (of a peer) Formerly.
   • The ¼th of the manor of Dunterdon is held of the king by knight's service as of his honour of Okehampton, now in the king's hands by reason of the atteinture of Henry lately Marquis of Exeter for high treason, and is worth 55s 6d yearly. 1545, Inquisition post mortem of John Arundell of Lanherne knight's lands in Devon:
   • David George Philip Cholmondeley, The Marquess of CHOLMONDELEY, K.C.V.O., lately Lord Great Chamberlain, Royal Household. 2023, “Honours list on the demise of HM Queen Elizabeth II”, in London Gazette, number 64008, page D2:

Forms

Deriveds

Johnny-come-lately

Synonyms

freshly