To be late or delayed; to fall behind schedule or be overdue (commonly written 遅れる).
電車が遅れて、会議に遅刻してしまった。
The train was delayed and I ended up being late for the meeting.
申し込みが期限に遅れると、受け付けてもらえないことがある。
If your application is late, it may not be accepted.
台風の影響で飛行機が大幅に遅れることがある。
Flights can be greatly delayed because of the typhoon.
To fall behind (in a race, studies, or with the times); to lag or be outdated (often written 後れる).
新しい技術に後れると競争力を失う。
If you fall behind on new technologies, you'll lose competitiveness.
彼はクラスで授業についていけず、後れを取っている。
He's falling behind in class and can't keep up with lessons.
時代に後れている企業は淘汰されることが多い。
Companies that lag behind the times are often weeded out.
To be preceded in death by someone (to be bereaved of); to die after another person—used to indicate someone was left behind by another's earlier death (often written 後れる).
彼は兄に後れて亡くなった。
He died after his older brother (i.e., was preceded by his brother in death).
妻は夫に後れて一週間後に亡くなった。
The wife died one week after her husband.
To run slow (of a clock or watch); to be behind the correct time.
この時計はいつも遅れているから、電池を替えたほうがいい。
This clock is always running slow; you should change the battery.
腕時計が５分遅れているので直さなくてはならない。
My wristwatch is five minutes slow, so I need to fix it.