He wanted to stay up late.

Meaning: He wished to not go to bed yet.

Choice of Words: Wanted means to desire or wish for something. Stay means to remain in a place or condition. Up means in a higher position or at a higher level. Late means at or after a time that is later than usual. When you put them together, it means the person wished to remain awake and not go to sleep at the usual time.

Alternative Expressions

He desired to remain awake beyond the ordinary hour.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, that the boy wished to remain awake for a longer period than usual, such as past his regular bedtime.

Choice of Words: He refers to the subject of the sentence, a boy. Desired is a verb that means to have a strong wish or longing for something. To remain means to continue to be in a place or condition. Awake means not sleeping. Beyond means past or further than a particular point. The ordinary hour means the usual or expected time for something to happen. When you put them together, the sentence means that the boy had a strong wish to continue to be awake past the usual or expected time.

The boy wished to defer his slumber until an unconventional hour.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, that the boy wished to remain awake for a longer period than usual, such as past his regular bedtime.

Choice of Words: The boy refers to the subject of the sentence, a boy. Wished is a verb that means to have a desire or wish for something. To defer means to put off or delay something. His slumber means his sleep. Until means up to a particular point in time. An unconventional hour means a time that is not usual or expected. When you put them together, the sentence means that the boy had a desire to put off or delay his sleep until a time that is not usual or expected.

Related Expressions