Lately

//ˈleɪt.li// adv, slang

adv, slang ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since.

    "I'd lately returned from Japan."

  2. 2
    In a late manner; after-the-fact. slang

    "Don't try to come lately and change your answer now after you've heard everyone else's response."

  3. 3
    Formerly.

    "David George Philip Cholmondeley, The Marquess of CHOLMONDELEY, K.C.V.O., lately Lord Great Chamberlain, Royal Household."

Adverb
  1. 1
    in the recent past wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
afreshanewfreshlyjustjustjust then

Antonyms

All antonyms
recent

Example

More examples

"Muiriel likes to annoy me lately."

Etymology

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

Related phrases

Johnny-come-lately

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.