later

1 of 3

adverb

lat·​er ˈlā-tər How to pronounce later (audio)
Synonyms of laternext
: at some time subsequent to a given time : subsequently, afterward
one week later
they later regretted the decision
—often used with on
experience that will be useful later on

later

2 of 3

comparative of late entry 1, late entry 2

-later

3 of 3

noun combining form

: worshipper
bibliolater

Synonyms of later

Relevance

Adverb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of later in a Sentence

Adverb I'll talk to you again later. They later regretted the decision. She returned several weeks later. I saw him again later that morning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
The bike also has a programmable control system that can provide functions such as boost, wheel-lift assistance, speed limiting and what Bonnell calls E-Clutch functionality (more on that later). — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 Two hydrocodone pills were later found in Woods’ pocket, according to an arrest affidavit released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and reviewed by The Athletic. — Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Driven out the Stoxx 50 German autos giant VW could be pushed out of the Euro Stoxx 50 later this month and be replaced by a resurgent Nokia. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 Moulton joined politics more than three decades later in 2014 and has repeatedly called for a new generation of leadership through the race. — Maham Javaid, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for later

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

see late entry 1

Noun combining form

French -latre, from Late Latin -latres, from Greek -latrēs; akin to Greek latron pay

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of later was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing later

Rhymes for later

See All Rhymes for later

Browse Nearby Words

late of
later
-later
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Later.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/later. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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