Lately is also an adverb; it means 'recently'. … Late as an adverb means 'not on time': …

What does Lately mean?

: of late : recently has been friendlier lately.

When should I use lately?

You use lately to describe events in the recent past, or situations that started a short time ago. Dad's health hasn't been too good lately. Lord Tomas had lately been appointed Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies.