arrived late

USAGE SUMMARY

"arrived late" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when referring to someone or something coming to a certain place later than expected. For example: "The guests arrived late, and the host had already started serving dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Obama arrived late in 2015.

The Washington Post

Fully 26 percent of domestic flights arrived late in 2007.

The Economist

Cerezo arrived late and spoke last.

Huffington Post

Last season, Martinez also arrived late.

The New York Times - Sports

They arrived late.

The New Yorker

Some had arrived late.

The Economist

The girls arrived late.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Rousseaus and Copper arrived late last summer.

The New York Times

Two other spouses arrived late last year.

The New York Times

He arrived last month.

The New York Times

They arrived last month.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "arrived late", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject was late for. For example, "The speaker arrived late to the conference" is clearer than simply, "The speaker arrived late."

Common error

Avoid vague sentences where it's unclear what the subject was late for. Instead of "The package arrived late", specify, "The package arrived late, delaying the project's start."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arrived late" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something reached a destination after the expected or scheduled time. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples showing its descriptive use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

11%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "arrived late" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase that describes the act of reaching a destination after the expected time. Ludwig AI analysis reveals its frequent usage across news, media, and business contexts, indicating its broad applicability. The phrase functions primarily to inform about delays and has a neutral tone suitable for various communication styles. Remembering to provide context about what was missed is crucial for clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, "arrived late" is a correct and useful phrase for describing tardiness in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

showed up late

Focuses on the act of appearing at a place later than expected.

came late

A more concise way of saying someone was not on time.

was delayed in arriving

Emphasizes the reason for the late arrival; suggests something caused the delay.

reached after the scheduled time

A more formal and descriptive way to express lateness.

missed the start

Highlights that someone was not present at the beginning of an event or activity.

turned up behind schedule

Similar to showing up late, but with an emphasis on a pre-set timetable.

made a late entrance

Indicates a delayed but possibly dramatic or noticeable arrival.

appeared tardily

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to say someone arrived late.

was unpunctual

Highlights the characteristic of not being on time.

didn't arrive on time

States directly that the arrival was not punctual.

FAQs

How can I use "arrived late" in a sentence?

You can use "arrived late" to indicate that someone or something reached a destination after the expected or scheduled time. For instance, "The train arrived late due to unforeseen circumstances" or "She arrived late to the meeting, causing a disruption".

What are some alternatives to saying "arrived late"?

Instead of "arrived late", you can use phrases like "showed up late", "came late", or "was delayed in arriving" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "arrived late" or "arrived lately"?

"Arrived late" refers to arriving after a scheduled time, while "lately" means recently. So, if someone was delayed, use "arrived late". "Lately" would be used to describe something that has happened recently, such as "I have arrived lately to work, because of a medical condition".

What's the difference between "arriving late" and "being late"?

"Arriving late" specifically refers to the act of reaching a destination after the expected time. "Being late" is more general and can refer to any situation where someone is not on time, not necessarily involving arrival at a specific place.