stay up late

Meaning

This expression means to remain awake past your normal bedtime or deep into the night. It is used to talk about studying, watching movies, partying, or working late. It is a very common conversational phrase used by speakers of all ages.

Examples

• I used to stay up late playing video games when I was a teenager.

  I used to stay up late playing video games when I was a teenager.

• If you stay up late tonight, you will be tired for your exam tomorrow.

  If you stay up late tonight, you will be tired for your exam tomorrow.

• We stayed up late talking about our childhood memories.

  We stayed up late talking about our childhood memories.

• My parents rarely stay up late on weekdays because they start work early.

  My parents rarely stay up late on weekdays because they start work early.

• I had to stay up late to finish the project before the deadline.

  I had to stay up late to finish the project before the deadline.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I stayed up lately to watch the movie.

  ✓ I stayed up late to watch the movie.

  'Lately' means 'recently'. 'Late' is the correct adverb to describe time here.

• ✗ I slept late yesterday, so I missed my morning class.

  ✓ I stayed up late yesterday, so I missed my morning class.

  'Sleep late' means to wake up late in the morning. 'Stay up late' means to go to bed late at night.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I try not to ___ on Sundays because I have school on Monday.

  💡 go to bed past my normal time

  Show answer

  stay up late

• Did you ___ last night to watch the election results?

  💡 remain awake until midnight or later

  Show answer

  stay up late