lately

adverb

late·​ly ˈlāt-lē How to pronounce lately (audio)
Synonyms of latelynext
: of late : recently
has been friendlier lately

Synonyms of lately

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Examples of lately in a Sentence

He has been feeling better lately. Lately, she has been worrying about her son.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Matières Fécales and Christian Louboutin’s shoes have been receiving some celebrity buzz lately. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Our staffer’s been enjoying back pocket recipes lately—with the first one inspired by Richard Olney, the Iowan painter, food writer, and Parisian ex-pat. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 As of Friday, Central District Health did not have a neighborhood in mind for testing the product, which has lately been deployed in several cities nationwide. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026 Seeing the growth of YouTube in the living room, Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock and lately Disney+ have been looking to add podcast programming, which is seen as a budget-friendly way to boost view time and engagement. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lately

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lately was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing lately

Rhymes for lately

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Browse Nearby Words

Late Latin
lately
late-magmatic
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Cite this Entry

“Lately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lately. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lately

adverb
late·​ly ˈlāt-lē How to pronounce lately (audio)
: not long ago
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