Synonyms

belatedly

American

[bih-ley-tid-lee] / bɪˈleɪ tɪd li /

adverb

after the customary, useful, or expected time.

If a law shouldn't have been passed in the first place, it's no crime to belatedly reverse it.
I received your letter last month, and I wanted to thank you, even if belatedly.

Etymology

Origin of belatedly

belated ( def. ) + -ly

Vocabulary lists containing belatedly

"A Soldier for the Crown," Vocabulary from the short story

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

L.A. officials have long expressed concern that Trump and Congress might belatedly yank away $1 billion already set aside to reimburse state and local governments for security, planning and other Olympics-related costs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

When Mortensen belatedly attempts to help Indy, Paul screams at him to “get away from my child.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Many continue to take her advice, as she is now belatedly admitting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

They will do so with Bethell belatedly secure at number three.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

Now he also experienced belatedly, for once in his life, the strongest and strangest passion; he suffered tre-mendously through it and yet was uplifted, in some way renewed and richer.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023