To be late as dream image is closely connected with your fear of change and evolution. You prefer to sit and wait for life to follow its natural course rather than taking action and striving to make things work better. Such a dream may also define a person who lives life at random and runs away from assuming responsibilities, taking up difficult tasks etc. Such an individual refuses to take things seriously and is very casual about all that takes place in his life, good or bad.
Consequently, to be late in a dream may be a metaphor for 'being late' in your own life. After a warning dream like this, you should revise your way of seeing things and start to strive more for the attainment of your goals - as this is a must for leading a happy life.
On the other hand, to be late for a meeting etc. in a dream may stand for your low self-esteem and lack of confidence in your own abilities. You are late in the dream because you think you are not skilled enough to accomplish a certain task, therefore not as fit as the others who arrived on time. Or you might be completely unprepared for certain events or situations occurring too fast in your waking life.
Being late for a certain event in a dream may also represent your fears and anxieties, especially those concerning the future. You may not have decided yet which path to follow in life. Or you may be anxious about a very important event to take place in the near future in the waking life.