left late

USAGE SUMMARY

'left late' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone departed at a later-than-expected time or following an expected timeline. For example, "I left late for the party, so I missed the beginning of the festivities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Michael Beasley had just seven points on 3-for-11 shooting while playing on a sprained left ankle, and left late in the fourth quarter after aggravating the injury.

Huffington Post

The flight left late, meaning that it was not possible to operate on his broken left collarbone.

The Guardian - Sport

They left late, feeling grumpy.

The New Yorker

Left late, replaced by Nate Jacqua.

The New York Times

He left late in the game with a hand laceration.

The New York Times - Sports

We left late and parked up opposite, near their house.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Mr. DelBello left late last January.

The New York Times

This group replaces Andrew Tarlow, who left late last year.

The New York Times - Food

He assumes those posts from Steve Hardwick, who left late last year.

The New York Times

EMI did not return a telephone message left late last night.

The New York Times - Tech

His last radio job was on station 670-AM, which he left late last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "left late" to describe a departure that happened later than planned or expected. It's suitable for various contexts, from describing delayed flights to people leaving events.

Common error

Don't use "left late" when you mean someone has passed away. Ensure the context clearly indicates a delayed departure, not a euphemism for death or termination from a job.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left late" functions as a verb phrase, where "left" is the past tense of the verb "leave", and "late" modifies it, indicating the time of departure. Examples from Ludwig show it describing delayed departures or exits.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left late" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe a departure that occurred later than expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and used across various contexts. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communications, it's most frequently found in news and media sources. When using "left late", ensure the context clearly indicates a delayed departure to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives like "departed belatedly" or "exited tardily" can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left later than expected

Directly states the departure occurred after the anticipated time.

departed belatedly

Focuses on the act of leaving but emphasizes the lateness of the departure, implying a significant delay.

exited tardily

Similar to "departed belatedly", highlighting the lateness with a slightly more formal tone.

left behind schedule

Emphasizes the deviation from a planned or expected departure time.

exited behind schedule

Similar to "left behind schedule", but uses "exited" to describe the departure.

departed after a delay

Explicitly mentions the presence of a delay causing the late departure.

left with a delay

Similar to "departed after a delay" but phrased more concisely.

left at a later hour

Focuses on the specific time of departure being later than anticipated.

postponed departure

Highlights the action of delaying the departure, indirectly implying a late departure.

delayed leaving

Focuses on the act of delaying the departure, suggesting the person intentionally caused the delay.

FAQs

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

You can use "left late" to describe situations where someone or something departed later than expected. For instance, "The meeting ran long, so I "left late"" or "The train "left late" due to unforeseen delays".

What does "left late" mean?

"Left late" means to depart or exit at a time that is later than scheduled, expected, or desired. It implies a tardiness in leaving.

What's a more formal alternative to "left late"?

More formal alternatives include "departed belatedly" or "exited tardily", which emphasize the lateness of the departure with a slightly more elevated tone.

Is it correct to say "left late"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable and understood in various contexts to describe a departure occurring later than expected.