became late

USAGE SUMMARY

"became late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation that has changed or shifted in some way, particular with regards to timing. For example, "The train became late because of a signal failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

So day matches turned into night matches, early night matches became late night matches, and late night matches became early Wednesday morning matches.

The New York Times - Sports

He also became, late in his life, the leading Swiss painter of the 19th century.

Independent

A number of the country's future black political leaders learnt spelling and sums as pupils of Sir Garfield, as he became late in life.

The Economist

But it was this house, where Anwar and Samira Balousha lived with their nine children, that had the misfortune to be built next to what became late on Sunday night another target in Israel's devastating bombing campaign of Gaza.

The Guardian

Yet these limitations on what became Late Night freed Letterman up to rework the formula for hosting an after-hours comedy show into something much looser, and willfully irreverent.

BBC

Lo and behold, he was throwing out ideas, and then we very quickly had a very rough idea for what became, late in Season 2, an episode called "Soft Light," and that was the first episode that I had my name on.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

List any late fees or interest you will charge on late payments, and note the deadline when payments become late.

WikiHow

If not for Miami's blowout of Florida, the final might have become Late Night with Venus and Serena.

The New York Times - Sports

The peak time of semiannual PWV cycles is during about January March and July September, and the peak time gradually becomes late from north to south.

Advances in Space Research

Are the missing early relapses in Forget et al. data never to happen or are they merely postponed to become late relapses?

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Users can submit their own ideas, but the company will determine which of those ideas actually become Late Labs projects.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "became late", ensure the context clearly indicates what entity or event experienced the delay. For example, "The project became late due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "became late" without clarifying the reason for the delay. Without context, it can leave the reader wondering what caused the lateness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became late" functions primarily as a linking verb plus an adjective, indicating a change in state with regard to time. Ludwig examples show it used to describe events or processes that transitioned from being on schedule to being delayed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "became late" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something transitioning into a state of delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While not the most frequent expression, it is commonly found in news and media contexts, and to a lesser extent, in scientific articles. To improve clarity, be sure to include the reason for the delay. Consider using alternatives like ""got delayed"" or ""was postponed"" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got delayed

Focuses specifically on the act of being held up or postponed.

turned tardy

Implies a change in state toward being late, often with a slightly formal or humorous tone.

ran behind schedule

Emphasizes the disruption of a planned timetable.

fell behind

Suggests a gradual process of becoming late or lagging.

were belated

Highlights the final state of being late and overdue.

arrived late

Focuses on the lateness of an arrival.

occurred later

Emphasizes the timing of the event happening after a specific or expected time.

was postponed

Highlights the change of a previously scheduled event to a later date or time.

suffered a setback

Indicates an unexpected delay or reversal in progress.

became overdue

Specifically indicates something has passed its deadline.

FAQs

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

Use "became late" to describe something that was originally on time but is now behind schedule. For example, "The delivery "got delayed"" or "The train "was postponed"".

What's a formal way to say "became late"?

In a formal context, consider using alternatives like "was delayed", "fell behind schedule", or "became overdue".

Which is correct, "became late" or "got late"?

"Became late" is generally considered more grammatically correct than "got late". "Got late" is more informal and less common in formal writing.

What does it mean when something "became late"?

When something "became late", it means that it transitioned from being on time to being behind schedule or delayed, usually implying an unexpected or unwanted change in timing.