afterwardsaf‧ter‧wards /ˈɑːftəwədz $ ˈæftərwərdz/ ●●● S2 W3 adverb (also afterward) 
Charles arrived shortly afterwards.days/weeks etc afterwards The experience haunted me for years afterwards. She died not long afterwards. Afterwards, I was asked to write a book.► see thesaurus at after
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A couple of years afterwards I bumped into her in a supermarket.
- His wife fell ill in June and died soon afterwards.
- The operation was rather painful, but I felt a lot better afterwards.
- But it was all too late, and Wakeling quit soon afterwards.
- For a while my wife and I were helpless with laughter, but trying to clean up afterwards taught us a lesson!
- I remember the blood on the grass when I came out afterwards.
- Immediately afterwards they had a grand Field Day.
- In contrast, Ellis showed great form until the dismissal which he said afterwards amazed him.
- Other members of their families were upstairs dancing, and afterwards they all walked home in a group.
THESAURUS
preposition after something happens, or after a period of time has passed. After is used especially when talking about the past: · We went for a walk after lunch.· After an hour, we got tired of waiting and went home.· They got married just after Christmas.
preposition after a particular period of time. In is used especially when talking about the future, especially the next few minutes, hours, days etc: · The concert’s due to start in a few minutes.· I’ll come back in an hour.· In a few years’ time, this place will look completely different.
preposition after less than a month, two weeks etc has passed – used especially when the time seems surprisingly short: within a month/two weeks etc: · He developed a headache at lunchtime, and within two hours he was dead.· Within two days of arriving she had managed to upset everyone.
at a time 24 hours, a year etc after now: · A week from now we’ll be in Paris.
(also afterward especially American English) adverb after an event or time you have mentioned: · Jones admitted afterwards that she had been very nervous during the game.· Speaking to reporters afterward, he said the operation had been a success.· He moved to Belgium, and soon afterwards he met Angela.
adverb some time after now or after the time you are talking about: · I’ll tell you about it later when I’m less busy.two months/three years etc later: · James went off, and came back ten minutes later with some food.
adverb formal after something had happened in the past: · The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently translated into fifteen languages.
Longman Language Activatorafter a particular time or event after something happens or after someone does something: · We went for a walk after lunch.· Gingrich won election to the House in 1978, after Flynt retired.· What did you do after leaving school?an hour/two days/a year etc after: · My father died two days after I was born.soon after/not long after: · He joined the army in 1914, and soon after was promoted to the rank of captain.right afteralso straight after British (=immediately after): · Paul rushed home right after school.just after: · My sister and her husband moved west just after their wedding.after that: · The Pirates jumped to a 22-2 lead, and Georgetown never got closer than 16 points after that.· It was terrible: first the gearbox seized and after that the radiator burst.
also afterward American after an event or a time that you have just mentioned: · The operation was rather painful, but I felt a lot better afterwards.· Afterward, Nick said he'd never been so nervous in his life.two years/three months etc afterwards: · A couple of years afterwards I bumped into her in a supermarket.soon/shortly afterwards: · His wife fell ill in June and died soon afterwards.
after something happens or after someone does something -- use this when you are describing a series of events in the order they happened: · Can you remember what happened next?· First, chop up two large onions. Next, fry them until they are golden brown.
some time after now or after the time you are talking about: · I'll tell you about it later when I'm not so busy.· Ronald Reagan joined the Republican Party in 1962 and later became Governor of California.three months/two years/ten days etc later: · A couple of days later I saw her in a downtown bar.later on: · The first part of the film is really boring but it gets better later on.much later (=a long time later): · I found out much later that some of the children I taught had become teachers themselves.later that day/month/year etc: · Later that month we got another letter from them asking for more money.
after you have done something -- use this when you are describing a series of things you did, or when you are giving instructions: · First we played tennis, and then we went swimming.· Add a cup of sugar. Then beat in three eggs.
formal after an event was finished in the past: · The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently translated into fifteen languages.· The six men were subsequently acquitted of all charges, but only after they had served 17 years in prison.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Charles arrived shortly afterwards. The experience haunted me for years afterwards. She died not long afterwards.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
after an event or time that has already been mentioned: Charles arrived shortly afterwards. The experience haunted me for years afterwards. She died not long afterwards.· What happened afterwards was stranger still, and equally disgusting.· M Rocard is more hopeful about what could happen afterwards.· Making a decision makes you responsible for what happens afterwards.· The woman whose smear is classified as positive will not get to choose what happens afterwards.· Then - what happened afterwards: she panics, everyone says.· What happens afterwards is variable both from woman to woman and from birth to birth.· It's what happens afterwards that really matters.
· Ludens said afterwards that it was a sound of protest at this rough handling.· Mr James said afterwards that this was the worst mistake he made.· Everyone said afterwards it was a miracle that more people hadn't been killed or injured.· Doctors said afterwards the overdose was potentially life threatening.· He said afterwards that he would consult his advisers before deciding his next action.· He said afterwards that he thought the explanations he had given regarding the crisis had satisfied the King.· Borg said afterwards that he and Lloyd were just getting the feel of the game when they lost it.
Charles arrived shortly afterwards.days/weeks etc afterwards The experience haunted me for years afterwards. She died not long afterwards. Afterwards, I was asked to write a book.► see thesaurus at after