belatedbe‧lat‧ed /bɪˈleɪtɪd/ adjective 
a belated attempt to increase supportbelated recognition/realization/acknowledgement The statement was a belated acknowledgement that the project had not been a success. a belated birthday present► see thesaurus at late—belatedly adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a belated birthday card
- her belated realisation that he was in love with someone else
- I got a belated birthday card from my cousin yesterday.
- John made a belated attempt to apologize.
- A belated rush to help is under way, complete with the good intentions and hazards that hasty rescues invariably bring.
- He was given a belated birthday cake with 60 candles.
- I set him down on the hood of the car and gave him a belated warning about snakes.
- It was while they were finishing their belated tea that Mrs Blunt arrived.
- Of course I welcome that, but it is a belated conversion.
- The recent production of the play that used the gay version was a fascinating experiment, not a belated act of justice.
- The Revolution certainly marked a belated victory for the policy of Exclusion, and finally established the legislative sovereignty of Parliament.
- Their subsequent revival and belated acceptance into the rock fold was one of the period's more surprising reversals.
THESAURUS
arriving or happening after the time that was expected or arranged: · Sorry I’m late.· The bus was late.· Spring seems to be very late this year.
not arriving or doing something at the time that was expected or arranged: · He never hands his homework in on time.· If we don’t leave on time, we’ll miss the flight.
not done or happening by the expected time – used especially about payments that are late or library books that should have been returned: · Your rent is three weeks overdue.· I had to pay a £3 fine on some overdue library books.
British English, be behind on something American English to be late in doing something that you have to do: · I can’t come out because I’m behind with my English essay.
to be made late for a meeting, appointment etc by something that happens, especially by bad traffic: · I was held up by a traffic jam.
to be prevented from arriving, leaving, or happening at the expected time – often used about public transport: · The flight was delayed by bad weather.
given or done late – used especially about something that someone has forgotten or failed to do: · a belated birthday card· I’m still hoping for a belated apology from him.
especially American English formal arriving or happening late: · a habitually tardy person· a tardy decision
formal to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should: · One in eight mortgage payers are in arrears.
Longman Language Activatorwhat you say when someone or something is late · The meeting started late.· There are severe penalties for late payment of bills.15 minutes/3 days etc late · Tony handed in his homework a day late.
use this about payments that should have been made or library books that should have been returned before now: · I must take these books back to the library - they're overdue.three weeks/two months etc overdue: · The rent's three weeks overdue.
to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should: · Jim's worried because he's behind with his loan repayments.be two months etc behind with something: · You're two months behind with the rent.get/fall behind with something (=start to make payments late): · I'm getting behind with the mortgage and I don't know how I'm going to pay it.· Even when people fall behind with their payments, they continue to take on financial commitments.
to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should: · In some areas, two out of three tenants are in arrears.be in arrears with: · Many countries are in arrears with their contributions.be two months etc in arrears: · Over 60,000 Londoners are more than three months in arrears with their mortgage repayments.get/fall into arrears: · The tax bills are sent out annually, so it's very easy for small employers to fall into arrears.
done or given later than it should have been, usually with the result that it does not have the effect that it should have: · John made a belated attempt to apologize.· I got a belated birthday card from my cousin yesterday.· her belated realisation that he was in love with someone else
spoken use this when someone arrives somewhere late: · You're late! Hurry up and get your books out and get on with your work.· You're late again, Chris! You'll be in trouble if you don't get your act together soon.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a belated attempt to increase support The statement was a belated acknowledgement that the project had not been a success.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
happening or arriving late: a belated attempt to increase support The statement was a belated acknowledgement that the project had not been a success.· Most importantly it is a belated recognition that imperialism offers a fantastically huge and barely mined seam of stories.· Such a belated recognition is likely to strike a reader as old news.
a belated attempt to increase supportbelated recognition/realization/acknowledgement The statement was a belated acknowledgement that the project had not been a success. a belated birthday present► see thesaurus at late—belatedly adverb