ran late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ran late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone or something that has gone beyond their expected time of arrival or completion. For example, "I'm sorry I'm late—I ran late this morning and got caught in traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The ABS negotiations ran late every night last week but still failed to produce a proposed protocol on the issue by the agreed-upon Friday deadline.

Science Magazine

But her book group met some Sundays and usually ran late.

The New Yorker

Renowned for prolific handwritten notes, Mr. Rudenstine has a humble, often rumpled persona, and often ran late for appointments (His leave, in 1994, began when he slept through a series of appointments in New York).

The New York Times

Buses ran late or not at all.

The New York Times - Sports

He said his hair appointment ran late.

The New York Times - Sports

Everything ran late, and nobody seemed to care.

The New York Times

Political discussion in the tent ran late into the evening.

The New York Times

The horror show for Democrats began early and ran late.

The New Yorker

Some of the "Hopscotch" previews had wobbly moments; limos ran late, scenes were curtailed.

The New Yorker

And the Mets said second baseman Danny Garcia's appointment with an eye doctor ran late.

The New York Times - Sports

On the third occasion I went to an athletics competition in Loughborough which ran late.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is particularly effective in professional and journalistic writing to provide a reason for a schedule shift without sounding overly defensive.

Common error

While these terms are related, they are not interchangeable. "ran late" implies that a preceding activity took longer than planned, whereas "was late" focuses solely on the point of arrival. Avoid using "ran late" if the delay was caused by a late start rather than an overextended duration.

Linguistic Context

"ran late" functions as a phrasal verb in the past tense, where "ran" acts as the linking verb and "late" as an adverbial complement. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to describe a process that extends beyond its expected duration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

0.5%

Encyclopedias

0.3%

Social Media

0.2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "ran late" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase that effectively explains time management issues. Based on Ludwig AI data, it appears frequently in reputable news outlets to describe everything from political negotiations to sporting events. Unlike simpler terms like "was late", this phrase adds a layer of contextual detail by suggesting that an active process or event was the source of the delay. Writers should feel confident using it in both formal reports and creative narratives to describe schedule overruns with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

behind schedule

Focuses on the deviation from a pre-established plan or timeline.

overran

Specifically refers to an event that continued past its allotted time limit.

was delayed

A more passive and formal way to indicate a late start or finish.

took longer than expected

Explains the cause of the lateness by highlighting the unexpected duration.

lasted longer than planned

Similar to took longer but emphasizes the duration of the entire event.

went over time

Commonly used in professional settings to describe meetings or presentations.

pushed past the hour

More descriptive and narrative, often used in literary or news writing.

lagged behind

Implies a slower pace of progress rather than just a late finish.

missed the mark

A more idiomatic and figurative way to describe missing a time target.

dragged on

Suggests that the duration was not only long but also tedious or slow.

FAQs

How to use "ran late" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where an activity exceeded its time limit, for example: "The meeting "ran late" because we had too many items on the agenda."

What can I say instead of "ran late"?

Depending on the context, you can use more precise alternatives like "overran", "was delayed" or "behind schedule".

Is "ran late" formal or informal?

The phrase is neutral and widely used in both professional environments and everyday conversation. It is a staple in high-quality journalism from sources like The New York Times.

What's the difference between "ran late" and "was late"?

The phrase "ran late" implies that the process or event took too much time, whereas ""was late"" describes the final state of arriving after the expected time.