lateness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈleɪt.nəs/ us/ˈleɪt.nəs/
（比预计、通常情况等）晚，迟到
the fact of happening or arriving after the planned, expected, usual, or necessary time
He was fired from his job for persistent lateness. 他因持续迟到而被解雇。
Sorry for the lateness of my reply. 很抱歉，我答复晚了。
（天色、时间）晚，迟
the fact of being near the end of the day
It was no great surprise that you were tired given the lateness of the hour. 时间已经很晚了，你感到疲惫一点都不令人惊讶。
I'm sorry for the lateness of the call, but I need to speak to you urgently. 很抱歉这么晚打电话过来，但我有一点紧急的事情要跟你说。
See: late
- More examples
- The coach doesn't accept excuses for lateness.
- Repeated lateness will result in disciplinary action.
- We apologise for the lateness of the train approaching Platform One.
- Despite the lateness of the evening, he was wearing sunglasses.