comparative form of late: more late
"You should leave now because you are much later than your friend for the meeting."
In plain English: Later means happening at a time that is after now or something else.
"The later train arrives at five o'clock."
Usage: Use "later" only to compare two specific times or dates when referring to being late, such as in "Which time is later, 5 PM or 6 PM?" In everyday speech, it is almost always incorrect to use "later" as an adjective describing a person's punctuality; instead, say someone is "late."
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"
comparative form of late: more late
"After waiting all day for the bus, I finally arrived home later than my usual time."
In plain English: Later means at a time that comes after now or something else has happened.
"We will meet again later tonight."
Usage: Use "later" to indicate a time that is further in the future or to compare two moments when something happens. It functions as an adverb meaning "at a subsequent time" rather than strictly as a comparative adjective describing how late an event occurred.
See you later; goodbye.
"I have to run now, but see you later!"
The word "later" comes from Middle English, where it was formed by adding the suffix "-er" to the Old English word for late. Its meaning has remained consistent as it traveled into modern English.