stayed late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stayed late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone remaining at a place, typically work, beyond the usual hours. Example: "She stayed late to finish the project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They also stayed late into the evening, cleaning rooms and moving furniture.

The New York Times

They stayed late into the night, sometimes driving immigrants to the airport themselves when shuttles weren't available.

The Washington Post

Meanwhile, they stayed late on Saturday night to work on Con Edison sites that paid a lot better.

TechCrunch

As sirens echoed in the distance, the crowd stayed late into the night.

Los Angeles Times

"People would come from all over Paris, and everyone stayed late, until it was almost morning.

The New York Times - Style

And I stayed late.

Harvard Business Review

All three stayed late.

The New Yorker

He stayed late at the office.

The New York Times - Sports

He arrived early, he stayed late.

The New York Times

She stayed late to help.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He stayed late.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dedication or commitment, use "stayed late" to illustrate the extra effort someone puts in to complete tasks or achieve goals.

Common error

Avoid using "stayed late" when simply referring to being out until a late hour for leisure. This phrase typically implies an obligation or responsibility that requires additional time to be spent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stayed late" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe an action of remaining somewhere beyond the usual or expected time. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness for describing this action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stayed late" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb phrase that effectively conveys the act of remaining somewhere beyond the usual or expected time. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is correct and readily applicable across various contexts. Its primary function involves indicating commitment, dedication, or the necessity of extra effort. While suitable for neutral to professional registers, the examples extracted by Ludwig show that this phrase is particularly frequent in news and media sources. Alternatives like "worked overtime" or "remained after hours" can be considered depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained until late

This alternative emphasizes the act of remaining, specifying the duration until a late hour.

remained after hours

This alternative highlights staying beyond the typical operational timeframe, commonly used in professional settings.

lingered longer

This suggests a more relaxed or enjoyable reason for staying, implying a reluctance to leave.

extended their stay

This phrase emphasizes the continuation of a visit or presence beyond the initial planned duration.

worked overtime

This alternative focuses specifically on working beyond regular hours, often implying paid extra time.

put in extra hours

Similar to "worked overtime", this implies additional working time spent to achieve a goal.

prolonged their visit

This suggests a conscious decision to make a visit or stay longer.

tarried

This option is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone remained longer than expected.

persisted until the night

This option highlights the tenacity of continuing an activity or presence until nighttime.

outstayed

Implies staying longer than others or beyond an expected limit.

FAQs

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

You can use "stayed late" to indicate that someone remained at a location, typically work or school, beyond the usual hours. For instance, "She "stayed late" to finish the project before the deadline".

What are some alternatives to saying "stayed late"?

Alternatives include "worked overtime", "remained after hours", or "lingered longer", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "stayed until late" instead of "stayed late"?

"Stayed late" is a more concise and common way to express remaining somewhere until a late hour. While "stayed until late" isn't incorrect, it's less idiomatic. Using "stayed late" is generally preferred for its directness.

What's the difference between "stayed late" and "worked overtime"?

"Stayed late" implies remaining at a place beyond the usual hours, whereas "worked overtime" specifically suggests putting in extra hours for work, often with the expectation of additional compensation. "Stayed late" does not always imply work.