Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

later

/ˈleɪ.tɚ/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.49 in modern English

Syllables: lat-er
IPA: /ˈleɪ.tɚ/

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

comparative form of late: more late

adv

Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).

adv

At some unspecified time in the future.

adv

What if (something problematic or unanticipated happens); if not (something undesirable will happen).

adj

comparative form of late: more late

adj

Coming afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).

adj

Coming afterward in distance (following an antecedent distance as embedded within an adverbial phrase)

adj

At some time in the future.

Example Sentences

"You came in late yesterday and today you came in even later."
"My roommate arrived first. I arrived later."
"I arrived later than my roommate."
"I wanted to do it now, but I’ll have to do it later."
"Compare Malay nanti (“later; if not”)"
"Later you fall asleep how?"

Etymology

* Adverb: From Middle English later, latere, from Old English lator, equivalent to late + -er. * Adjective: From Middle English later, latere, from Old English lætra, equivalent to late + -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian leeter (“later”), West Frisian letter (“later”), Dutch later (“later”), German Low German later (“later”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: later, lator, lætra
Suffix: late

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈleɪ.tɚ/
British English: /ˈleɪ.tə/

Usage

Slang

Derived Forms

neverthelater laters laterward laterwards

Phrases

catch you later I kill you later no later than you later alligator shoot first and ask questions later smell ya later smell you later sooner rather than later

Synonyms

sekali afterwards hereafter later on someday ulterior posterior late

Antonyms

earlier once

Rhymes With

greater creator traitor translator dictator waiter cater crater curator slater skater equator

Questions

How do you pronounce later?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈleɪ.tɚ/.
What does later mean?: comparative form of late: more late
Where does later come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce later

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “later”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈleɪ.tɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “later”.
Repeat and practice — Say “later” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.