There are various synonyms that can be used to express the phrase "were late for". Some of these include "arrived tardy", "missed the deadline", "failed to make the scheduled time", "fell behind schedule", "were delayed", "arrived behind schedule", "ran behind time", "were held up", "got there too late", and "didn't make it on time". Each of these phrases conveys the same idea of not arriving at the expected or desired time, but with slightly different connotations. Using these synonyms in your writing can help to vary your language and convey a more nuanced meaning.