In addition to the uses shown below, after is used in phrasal verbs such as 'ask after', 'look after', and 'take after'.
1. preposition
If something happens after a particular date or event, it happens during the period of time that follows that date or event.
After 19 May, strikes were occurring on a daily basis.
After breakfast Amy ordered a taxi.
It wasn't until after Christmas that I met Paul.
After is also a conjunction.
After Don told me this, he spoke of his mother.
Marina cared for him after he seriously injured his eye several years ago.
2. preposition [PREP v-ing]
If you do one thing after doing another, you do it during the period of time that follows the other thing.
After completing and signing it, please return the form to us in the envelope provided.
...women who have changed their mind after deciding not to have children.
After flying from Los Angeles to London, allow four full days to adjust.
3. preposition
You use after when you are talking about time. For example, if something is going to happen during the day after or the weekend after a particular time, it is going to happen during the following day or during the followingweekend.
She's leaving the day after tomorrow.
...the party's annual conference, to be held the week after next.
After is also an adverb.
Tomorrow. Or the day after.
4. preposition
If you go after someone, you follow or chase them.
He walked out, and Louise went after him.
...people who were after him for large amounts of money.
Synonyms: following, chasing, pursuing, on the hunt for More Synonyms of after
5. preposition
If you are after something, you are trying to get it.
They were after the money.
I did eventually find what I was after.
Synonyms: looking for, searching for, in search of, trying to find More Synonyms of after
6. preposition
If you call, shout, or stare after someone, you call, shout, or stare at them as they move away from you.
'Come back!' he called after me.
Claire stared after him until he disappeared around a corner.
7. preposition
If you do something after someone, you do it for them, because they cannot or will not do it for themselves.
She used to mess up the floor and I had to clean up after her.
Synonyms: because of, in the wake of, in the aftermath of, on account of More Synonyms of after
8. preposition
If you tell someone that one place is a particular distance after another, you mean that it is situated beyond the other place and further away from you.
A few kilometres after the village, turn right to Montelabate.
9. preposition
If one thing is written after another thing on a page, it is written following it or underneath it.
I wrote my name after Penny's.
10. preposition
You use after in order to give the most important aspect of something when comparing it with another aspect.
After Germany, America is Britain's second-biggest customer.
Methane is often regarded as the second most important greenhouse gas after carbondioxide.
Synonyms: apart from, barring, excepting, next to More Synonyms of after
11. preposition
To be named after someone means to be given the same name as them.
[British]
Phillimore Island is named after Sir Robert Phillimore.
He persuaded Virginia to name the baby after him.
regional note: in AM, use for
Synonyms: with the same name as, in the name of, in honour of, the same as More Synonyms of after
12. convention
If you say 'after you' to someone, you are being polite and allowing them to go in front of you or through a doorway before you do.
[politeness]
'After you.'—'Not at all, Mr Bird, after you.'
13. preposition
After is used when telling the time. If it is, for example, ten after six, the time is ten minutes past six.
[US]
14. after all
15.
See one after the other
16.
See day after day/year after year
More Synonyms of after
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
after-
(ɑːftəʳ-, æftəʳ-)
combining form [ADJECTIVE noun]
After- is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something takes place or exists after an event or process.
...an after-dinner speech.
...a delicious after-show supper at a restaurant in Gerard Street.
After-tax profit fell by 28 percent.
after in British English
(ˈɑːftə)
preposition
1.
following in time; in succession to
after dinner
time after time
2.
following; behind
they entered one after another
3.
in pursuit or search of
chasing after a thief
he's only after money
4.
concerning
to inquire after someone's health
5.
considering
after what you have done, you shouldn't complain
6.
next in excellence or importance to
he ranked Jonson after Shakespeare
7.
in imitation of; in the manner of
a statue after classical models
8.
in accordance with or in conformity to
a man after my own heart
9.
with a name derived from
Amaya was named after her grandmother
10. US
past (the hour of)
twenty after three
11. after all
12. after you
adverb
13.
at a later time; afterwards
14.
coming afterwards; in pursuit
15. nautical
further aft; sternwards
conjunction
16. (subordinating)
at a time later than that at which
he came after I had left
adjective
17. nautical
further aft
the after cabin
Word origin
Old English æfter; related to Old Norse aptr back, eptir after, Old High German aftar
after in American English
(ˈæftər; ˈɑftər)
adverb
1.
behind in place
2.
behind in time; later; next
preposition
3.
behind in place; in back of
4.
a.
behind in time; later than
after lunch
b.
following
year after year
5.
a.
in search of
b.
pursuing, hounding, urging, etc.
they are after me for a donation
6.
as a result of; on account of
after what has happened, he won't go
7.
in spite of
after all we had done, he was still ungrateful
8.
following next to in order, rank, or importance
9.
in accordance with; in the manner of; patterned on the model of
a novel after Hemingway's style
10.
for; in honor of
a child named after Lincoln
11.
concerning; about
she asked after you
conjunction
12.
following the time when; later than
adjective
13.
next; later
14.
nearer the rear (esp. of a ship or aircraft)
Word origin
ME < OE æfter (akin to OHG aftar & MHG after) < of, off + -ter, old compar. suffix
after- in American English
(ˈæftər; ˈɑftər)
coming behind or later
aftercare
Examples of 'after' in a sentence
after
Some of his compositions are named after birds and insects.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but will still be charged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They married in 2012 shortly after the birth of their second son.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She beat the disease last year, months after a miscarriage.
The Sun (2017)
He came back incredibly fit, but he has just had one annoying injury after another.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has weaknesses but he's very diligent in going after them.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
My whole life went into meltdown for a few weeks after I netted the winning goal.
The Sun (2017)
I didn't look back after that.
The Sun (2016)
The guys are back together after their first year at college.
The Sun (2009)
He was given an official caution by cops after he admitted sending the snaps.
The Sun (2009)
He died shortly after arrival at hospital.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It had been hoped that after years of decline marriage was on the up again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was built around five years ago and we moved in soon after it was completed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They inhabit such mutually exclusive worlds that seeing them one after the other is a jolt.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The polls emerged after five weeks of voting.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That was so hard to take after another amazing game.
The Sun (2012)
You are ready to aim high and go after the career and the home life you want.
The Sun (2013)
After a further few days it will all get much better.
MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)
May have found it hard coming back after long layoff.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Digby came racing past soon after they had stopped.
Len Deighton Bomber
But this season has been one calamity after another.
The Sun (2016)
The fund was wound down last week after months of poor performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but will still be charged.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She took up the sport two years ago after an accident that left her paralysed from the chest down.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are named after the Kentish town rather than the eponymous snack.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It's very sobering to come home to after a day in the office.
The Sun (2015)
The plumber's move coincidentally comes shortly after he released a new book.
Christianity Today (2000)
The short stretch of coastline is made up of one special, stunning bay after another.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But after further outraged contact from the mothers, it decided to withdraw the bed from sale.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
"Oh, well, in that case perhaps you would prefer that I leave, and not come back until after- " "Just try it.
Elizabeth Peters HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY (2000)
In other languages
after
British English: after /ˈɑːftə/ CONJUNCTION
If something happens after another thing, it happens later than it.
He arrived after I had left.
American English: after
Arabic: بَعْد
Brazilian Portuguese: depois que
Chinese: 过后
Croatian: nakon
Czech: poté, co
Danish: efter
Dutch: nadat
European Spanish: después de (que)
Finnish: jälkeen
French: après que
German: nachdem
Greek: αφού
Italian: dopo
Japanese: ･･･した後に
Korean: ...한 뒤에
Norwegian: etter at
Polish: zaraz po (tym jak)
European Portuguese: depois de
Romanian: după ce
Russian: после того как
Latin American Spanish: después de (que)
Swedish: efter
Thai: หลังจาก
Turkish: sonra
Ukrainian: після того як
Vietnamese: sau khi
British English: after /ˈɑːftə/ PREPOSITION
later than If something happens after another thing, it happens later than it.
I watched television after dinner.
American English: after subsequent to
Arabic: بَعْدَما
Brazilian Portuguese: depois
Chinese: 在...之后
Croatian: nakon
Czech: po
Danish: efter
Dutch: na
European Spanish: después de
Finnish: jälkeen
French: après
German: nach
Greek: μετά
Italian: dopo
Japanese: ･･･の後に
Korean: ... 후에
Norwegian: etter
Polish: po
European Portuguese: depois
Romanian: după
Russian: после
Latin American Spanish: después de
Swedish: efter
Thai: ภายหลัง
Turkish: ardından
Ukrainian: після
Vietnamese: sau
British English: after /ˈɑːftə/ PREPOSITION
in pursuit of If you go after a person or thing, you follow them or chase them.
They ran after her.
American English: after
Arabic: وَرَاءَ
Brazilian Portuguese: atrás de
Chinese: 在…之后人或物
Croatian: nakon
Czech: po
Danish: efter
Dutch: achterna
European Spanish: tras
Finnish: perään
French: après
German: hinerher
Greek: μετά
Italian: da
Japanese: ･･･のあとを
Korean: 뒤에
Norwegian: etter
Polish: za
European Portuguese: ir atrás de
Romanian: după
Russian: после
Latin American Spanish: tras
Swedish: efter
Thai: ไล่ตาม
Turkish: arkasından
Ukrainian: за
Vietnamese: sau
All related terms of 'after'
after all
You use after all when introducing a statement which supports or helps explain something you have just said .
after-tax
denoting earnings, profit , or income left when tax has been paid
after you
please go, enter , etc, before me
ask after
If someone asks after you, they ask someone how you are.
get after
to pursue or attack
go after
If you go after something, you try to get it, catch it, or hit it.
run after
If you are running after someone, you are trying to start a relationship with them, usually a sexual relationship.
see after
to take care of; look after
after dark
If you do something after dark , you do it when the sun has set and night has begun .
after-hours
You use after-hours to describe activities which happen after the end of the usual time for them.
after-lunch
occurring after a midday meal
after next
You use after next in expressions such as the week after next to refer to a period of time after the next one. For example , when it is May , the month after next is July .
after-sales
relating to anything happening after something is sold
after-shave
a lotion , usually astringent and perfumed , applied to the face after shaving
look after
If you look after someone or something, you do what is necessary to keep them healthy , safe , or in good condition.
lust after
If you lust after someone or lust for them, you feel a very strong sexual desire for them.
make after
to set off in pursuit of; chase
point after
a score given for a successful kick between the goalposts and above the crossbar , following a touchdown
take after
If you take after a member of your family, you resemble them in your appearance, your behaviour, or your character.
whore after
to pursue something immoral or depraved
after-effect
The after-effects of an event, experience, or substance are the conditions which result from it.
after-effects
harmful consequences , effects
after-school
After-school activities are those that are organized for children in the afternoon or evening after they have finished school.
inquire after
If you inquire after someone, you ask how they are or what they are doing.
looked-after
(of children) brought up by the state in institutions because their parents are dead or not able to care for them properly
morning after
a hangover or a painful awakening
sought-after
Something that is sought-after is in great demand, usually because it is rare or of very good quality.
after a sort
to some extent
after-ripening
the period of internal change that is necessary in some apparently mature seeds before germination can occur
after the fact
after the commission of the offence
clean up after
If you clean up after someone, you clean or tidy a place that they have made dirty or untidy .
day after day
If something happens day after day , it happens every day without stopping .
fore-and-after
any vessel with a fore-and-aft rig
after a fashion
If you say that something was done after a fashion , you mean that it was done, but not very well.
after-dinner drink
a drink such as port and brandy taken after dinner
hour after hour
If you say that someone does something hour after hour , you are emphasizing that they do it continually for a long time.
life after death
If you talk about life after death , you are discussing the possibility that people may continue to exist in some form after they die .
month after month
every month or for many successive months
morning-after pill
The morning-after pill is a pill that a woman can take some hours after having sex to prevent herself from becoming pregnant .
night after night
every night or for many successive nights
the morning after
the aftereffects of excess , esp a hangover
time after time
If something happens time after time , it happens in a similar way on many occasions .
week after week
every week or for many successive weeks
year after year
If something happens year after year , it happens regularly every year.
afterlife
The afterlife is a life that some people believe begins when you die , for example a life in heaven or as another person or animal.
after-dinner speaker
person paid to make an entertaining speech at a formal dinner
after-hours drinking
drinking in a pub after its legal closing time
after-sales service
A company's after-sales service is all the help and information that it provides to customers after they have bought a particular product.
after-school activity
An activity is something that you spend time doing.
aftertaste
An aftertaste is a taste that remains in your mouth after you have finished eating or drinking something.
Chinese translation of 'after'
after
(ˈɑːftəʳ)
prep
(in time) 在 ... 以后(後) (zài ... yǐhòu)
⇒ She arrived just after breakfast.她刚好在早饭后到。 (Tā gānghǎo zài zǎofàn hòu dào.)
(in place, order) 在 ... 后(後)面 (zài ... hòumiàn)
⇒ I wrote my signature after Penny's.我把名字签在彭妮的后面。 (Wǒ bǎ míngzi qiān zài Péng Nī de hòumiàn.)
adv
(= afterwards) 以后(後) (yǐhòu)
⇒ Soon after, he began preparing the meal.不久以后，他开始准备饭菜。 (Bùjiǔ yǐhòu, tā kāishǐ zhǔnbèi fàncài.)
conj
(= once) 在 ... 以后(後) (zài ... yǐhòu)
⇒ They felt ill after they had eaten.他们吃完后感到不舒服。 (Tāmen chīwán hòu gǎndào bù shūfu.)
the day after tomorrow后(後)天 (hòutiān)
it's ten after eight (US) 现(現)在是8点(點)过(過)10分 (xiànzài shì bādiǎn guò shífēn)
英 = past
day after day/year after year日复(復)一日/年复(復)一年 (rì fù yī rì/nián fù yī nián)
to call/shout/stare after sb在某人身后(後)叫/喊/瞪眼 (zài mǒurén shēn hòu jiào/hǎn/dèngyǎn)
the second biggest, after Germany紧(緊)随(隨)德国(國)之后(後)的第二大 (jǐnsuí Déguó zhīhòu de dì'èr dà)
to clean/tidy/clear up after sb (= for) 替某人打扫(掃)/整理/清理 (tì mǒurén dǎsǎo/zhěnglǐ/qīnglǐ)
to be after sb (chasing, following) 追逐某人 (zhuīzhú mǒurén)
⇒ The police are after him.警察在追缉他。 (Jǐngchá zài zhuījī tā.)
to be after sth (trying to get) 想得到某物 (xiǎngdédào mǒuwù)
to ask after sb询(詢)问(問)某人的情况(況) (xúnwèn mǒurén de qíngkuàng)
to be named after sb/sth (Brit) 以某人/某物的名字命名 (yǐ mǒurén/mǒuwù de míngzi mìngmíng)
after all毕(畢)竟 (bìjìng)
after you!您先请(請)！ (Nín xiān qǐng!)
after doing sth做完某事后(後) (zuòwán mǒushì hòu)
⇒ after flying to London飞抵伦敦后 (fēi dǐ Lúndūn hòu)
after，afterwards 和 later 用于表示某事发生在说话的时间，或者某个特定事情之后。after 可以和 not long，shortly 等连用。 After dinner she spoke to him ... Shortly after, she called me. 在无须指明某个特定时间或事件时，可以用 afterwards。 Afterwards we went to a night club ... You'd better come and see me later.afterwards 可以和 soon，shortly 等连用。 Soon afterwards, he came to the clinic.later 表示某事发生在说话之后，可以和 a little，much 或 not much 等连用。 A little later, the lights went out ... I learned all this much later. 可以用 after，afterwards 和 later 后跟表示时间段的词语，表示某事发生的时间。 ... five years after his death ... She wrote about it six years later/afterwards.
All related terms of 'after'
go after
( pursue : person ) 追赶(趕) zhuīgǎn
after all
毕(畢)竟 bìjìng
ask after
( person ) 问(問)候 wènhòu
run after
( chase ) 追赶(趕) zhuīgǎn
after dark
天黑以后(後) tiānhēi yǐhòu
after hours
工作结(結)束后(後) gōngzuò jiéshù hòu
after which
在那以后(後) zài nà yǐhòu
after you!
您先请(請)！ Nín xiān qǐng!
look after
( care for ) 照顾(顧) zhàogù
take after
( resemble ) 像 xiàng ⇒ He takes after his dad. → 他像他的爸爸。 Tā xiàng tā de bàba.
after-shave (lotion)
须(鬚)后(後)(润(潤)肤(膚))水 xūhòu (rùnfū) shǔi
inquire after
▶ to inquire after sb/sb's health 问(問)起某人/某人的健康情况(況) wènqǐ mǒurén/mǒurén de jiànkāng qíngkuàng
after a fashion
( finish, manage ) 勉强(強)算是 miǎnqiǎng suàn shì
after doing sth
做完某事后(後) zuòwán mǒushì hòu ⇒ after flying to London → 飞抵伦敦后 fēi dǐ Lúndūn hòu
after much thought
经(經)慎重考虑(慮)后(後) jīng shènzhòng kǎolǜ hòu
before/after tax
税(稅)前/后(後) shuì qián/hòu
long before/after
很久以前/以后(後) hěn jiǔ yǐqián/yǐhòu
right before/after
刚(剛)好在之前/之后(後) gānghǎo zài zhīqián/zhīhòu
to ask after sb
询(詢)问(問)某人的情况(況) xúnwèn mǒurén de qíngkuàng
to be after sb
( chasing, following ) 追逐某人 zhuīzhú mǒurén ⇒ The police are after him. → 警察在追缉他。 Jǐngchá zài zhuījī tā.
to be after sth
( trying to get ) 想得到某物 xiǎngdédào mǒuwù
to lust after sb
贪(貪)恋(戀)某人 tānliàn mǒurén
it's ten after eight
( US ) 现(現)在是8点(點)过(過)10分 xiànzài shì bādiǎn guò shífēn [ 英 = past ]
just before/after ...
就在 ... 以前/以后(後) jiùzài ... yǐqián/yǐhòu
the day before/after
前/后(後)一天 qián/hòu yī tiān
the week after next
下下个(個)星期 xiàxià gè xīngqī
immediately before/after
紧(緊)接着(著) ... 之前/后(後) jǐnjiēzhe ... zhīqián/hòu
the day after tomorrow
后(後)天 hòutiān
the Tuesday after next
下下个(個)星期二 xià xià gè xīngqī'èr
shortly after/before sth
某事后(後)/前不久 mǒushì hòu/qián bùjiǔ
day after day/year after year
日复(復)一日/年复(復)一年 rì fù yī rì/nián fù yī nián
so I was right after all
那终(終)究我是对(對)的 nà zhōngjiū wǒ shì duì de
to be named after sb/sth
( Brit ) 以某人/某物的名字命名 yǐ mǒurén/mǒuwù de míngzi mìngmíng