Region: General | Usage example: The report arrived after the meeting, but better late than never.

Better late than never

Meaning

Doing something after the ideal time is still better than failing to do it at all.

Used to accept a delayed apology, payment, arrival, reply, or completed task while acknowledging that it should have happened sooner.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

The idea appears in older European proverb traditions, including Latin-style moral sayings about completion and effort.

English versions have circulated since the 16th century and remain common because the phrase is short, forgiving, and practical.