later meaning and definition

LATER adjective

Definition of later (adjective)

1. coming at a subsequent time or stage
   • "without ulterior argument"; "the mood posterior to"
   • synonyms: posterior, ulterior
2. at or toward an end or late period or stage of development
   • "the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the disease"; "later medical science could have saved the child"
   • synonyms: late
   • antonym: early

LATER adverb

Definition of later (adverb)

1. happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
   • "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here later"; "it didn't happen until afterward"; "two hours after that"
   • synonyms: after, afterward, afterwards, later on, subsequently
2. at some eventual time in the future
   • "By and by he'll understand"; "I'll see you later"
   • synonyms: by and by
3. comparative of the adverb `late'
   • "he stayed later than you did"