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Lately: meaning, definitions and examples

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lately

 

[ ˈleɪtli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

in the recent past

Recently; not long ago. Lately is usually used to refer to events that have occurred in the near past, but not necessarily today or yesterday. It is often used in casual conversation to indicate a general timeframe without specific details.

Synonyms

in recent times, of late, recently.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
lately

This word is used to describe actions or events that have happened in the recent past, usually within the last few weeks or months.

  • Lately, I've been feeling very tired
  • Have you seen any good movies lately?
recently

This word is used to discuss something that occurred a short time ago, generally within the last few weeks or months.

  • Recently, I started a new job
  • Have you read any good books recently?
of late

This phrase is more formal and is used to refer to recent events or situations, often within the last few weeks or months. It might sound a bit old-fashioned.

  • Of late, she has been very quiet
  • The weather has been unpredictable of late
in recent times

This phrase is used to talk about events or changes that have occurred within a broader recent period, which could span the last few years or a shorter time frame.

  • In recent times, technology has advanced rapidly
  • In recent times, many businesses have shifted to remote work

Examples of usage

  • I haven't seen her lately.
  • She has been feeling tired lately.
  • We've been going out to eat a lot lately.
  • I've been reading a lot of books lately.
  • Have you watched any good movies lately?

Translations

Translations of the word "lately" in other languages:

🇵🇹 recentemente

🇮🇳 हाल ही में (haal hi mein)

🇩🇪 kürzlich

🇮🇩 baru-baru ini

🇺🇦 недавно

🇵🇱 ostatnio

🇯🇵 最近 (さいきん, saikin)

🇫🇷 récemment

🇪🇸 recientemente

🇹🇷 son zamanlarda

🇰🇷 최근에 (choegeun-e)

🇸🇦 مؤخراً (mu'akhkharan)

🇨🇿 nedávno

🇸🇰 nedávno

🇨🇳 最近 (zuìjìn)

🇸🇮 nedavno

🇮🇸 nýlega

🇰🇿 жақында

🇬🇪 ბოლო დროს (bolo dros)

🇦🇿 son vaxtlar

🇲🇽 recientemente

Etymology

The word 'lately' originated from Middle English 'lateliche,' which means 'recently' or 'lately.' It evolved from the Old English word 'lætlīce,' where 'læt' means 'late' and 'līce' is an adverbial suffix. Over time, the word has retained its meaning of denoting events or actions that have occurred in the near past. 'Lately' is commonly used in modern English to indicate recent occurrences without specifying an exact time frame.

See also: late, latecomer, lateness, later, latest, prelate.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,397, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.