later
at a time in the futureI'll see you later.
This means the speaker will meet the person at a future time.
informal
at a time in the future
Let's talk about this later.
The speaker suggests discussing the topic at a later time.
Often used to politely postpone a conversation or action.
Collocations
see you latera common way to say goodbyetalk laterto discuss something at a future time
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Polite Postponement
Use 'later' to politely delay a conversation or action without being rude.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'later' depends on the context—it can refer to a short or long time in the future.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'latter', from Old English 'lǣtra' (comparative of 'lǣt', meaning 'late').
Usage Notes
Can be used as an adverb or noun (e.g., 'the later years of his life').
Word Breakdown
late
happening after the expected or usual time
root-er
comparative suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary