Vocabulary Spotlight
Belated
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Happening or arriving late; delayed beyond the expected or usual time.
“She sent a belated birthday card after forgetting the actual date.”
Pronunciation
[bih-ley-tid]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Late
Overdue
Tardy
Postponed
Antonyms
Punctual
Prompt
Early
Immediate
Related Words
Procrastinate
Word Origin
“Belated” comes from the English prefix “be-” and the word “late,” meaning “to make late.” It refers to something arriving or occurring after the expected time.
Word Family
Adjective: Belated – Occurring or arriving late.
Adverb: Belatedly – Done in a delayed manner.
Mnemonics
Think of “be-late” – something that happens after the time it was supposed to.
Industry-specific Usage
Greetings
“Belated” is commonly used in greetings, such as “Happy belated birthday,” to acknowledge a missed occasion.
Business
In business, “belated” can refer to overdue payments or delayed responses.
News
In media, a “belated report” may refer to information that comes out after the event has occurred.
In Context
“Belated” is often used to describe actions or events that happen after the expected time, commonly applied to greetings, acknowledgments, or overdue tasks.