Belated
/bɪˈleɪtɪd/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Belated describes something that is delayed or comes too late. It is often used when someone does or says something after the right time, like a birthday wish or an apology. The word shows that the action was meant to happen earlier but did not.
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See It in Action
Happening or arriving after the expected or usual time, especially for greetings or events
- •I sent you a belated birthday card because I forgot the day.
- •Please accept my belated congratulations on your promotion.
- •We had a belated celebration since everyone was busy on the actual day.
Used politely to apologize for something done late
- •Sorry for the belated reply; I was very busy last week.
- •She gave a belated thank-you gift for the help she received.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "belated" like "late," but more polite and used for special events or actions, not just any late thing
- ✓Picture a birthday card arriving after the birthday party is over, still nice but clearly late
- ✓It's the feeling when you remember a friend's birthday a few days after and want to say sorry for the delay
- ✓Sounds like "be-LATE-id" → imagine adding "-ed" to "late" to show something already happened late
- ✓Imagine stories where a hero arrives just after the important moment, making things a bit sad or funny
- ✓NOT like "late" in general (which can be for anything), "belated" is more about special occasions or polite expressions
- ✓NOT like "early" (before the right time), "belated" always means after the right time
Try Other Words
- •Late: after the expected time (Use for general situations when something is not on time)
- •Overdue: something expected but delayed (Use when something is very late and should have happened already)
- •Delayed: happening later than planned (Use when the focus is on the cause or process of being late)
- •Tardy: arriving late, often used for people (Use in formal or school contexts for late arrival)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "be-" (makes adjective) + root "late" + suffix "-ed" (shows past or completed state)
- •Etymology: From Middle English, combining "be-" and "late" to mean "being late" or "happening late"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to politely describe something that comes after the right time
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in greetings, apologies, and polite expressions to acknowledge lateness without strong blame
Reflect & Connect
•How does using "belated" change the feeling when you say sorry for being late?
•Can "belated" be used for serious problems, or is it only for polite, small delays? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.I sent you a belated birthday card because I forgot your special day ___ by three days.
2.When someone says "belated congratulations," they mean the congratulations came ___ the event.
3.A belated apology usually shows that the person ___ to say sorry at the right time.
4.Unlike a regular late message, a belated message is often ___ and polite.
5.We had a belated party ___ the actual date because many people were busy.
6.Saying "belated thanks" means you are thanking someone ___ than you should have.
7.If you receive a gift belatedly, it means it arrived ___ than expected.