after
1 of 7adverb
af·ter ˈaf-tər 
: following in time or place : afterward, behind, later
we arrived shortly after
returned 20 years after
after
2 of 7preposition
1
a
: behind in place
people lined up one after another
b(1)
: subsequent to in time or order
20 minutes after 6
(2)
: subsequent to and in view of
after all our advice
2
—used to indicate the object of a stated or implied action
go after goldwas asking after you
3
: so as to resemble: such as
a
: in accordance with
He's a man after my own heart.
b
: with the name of or a name derived from that of
named after his father
c
: in the characteristic manner of : in imitation of
writing after the manner of Hemingway
see also take after
after
3 of 7conjunction
: subsequently to the time when
We will come after we make plans.
after
4 of 7adjective
1
: later in time
in after years
2
[Middle English, probably from afte aft entry 1 + -er -er entry 1] : located toward the rear and especially toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
an after cabin
after
5 of 7auxiliary verb
af·ter ˈäf-tər
chiefly Ireland
—used with a present participle to indicate action completed and especially just completed
the poor old man is after dying on me—
J. M. Synge
J. M. Syngeafter
6 of 7noun
: afternoon
after-
7 of 7prefix
1
a
—used as the first part of a compound to indicate an event or entity that follows or results from the thing denoted by the second part of the compound
afterbirthafterlifeafternoon
b
—used as the first part of a compound to indicate an event or entity of the same nature as the thing denoted by the second part of the compound but which follows that event or entity and is less intense or significant
afterglowaftershockafterthought
2
—the rear or lower part
afterdeck
Synonyms
Adverb
- afterward
- afterwards
- later
- latterly
- subsequently
- thereafter
Preposition
- après
- behind
- below
- following
- next to
- past
Adjective
- aft
- back
- hind
- hinder
- hindmost
- posterior
- rear
- rearward
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adverb Don't tell them until after. I expected her then, but she arrived the week after. He ate lunch and left just after. Preposition We arrived shortly after six o'clock. He returned after 20 years. before, during, and after the war He left just after nightfall. He finished the exam after me. Call me after your arrival. She was going to arrive tomorrow but I'm now expecting her the day after tomorrow instead. He left after an hour. How can you say that after what happened last night? It's the highest mountain after Mount Everest. Conjunction He returned after 20 years had passed. Don't tell them until after they've had dinner. He left just after the show ended. Call me after you arrive. He finished the exam after I did. It happened not long after he graduated from college. Adjective had heard that the after section of the cruise ship had more spacious cabins in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war See More
Recent Examples on the WebGary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023 The extra-hydrating effect will have your lips feeling silky smooth, even after. —Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 27 Jan. 2023 Some meats get grilled after, and others are served as is. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023 Don’t expect an all-electric variant to follow soon after, though. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2023 On the other hand, while these companies may not have the scale of an Amazon or a Walmart just yet, startups have something that the Fortune 500 do not: the ability to choose what problems to go after. —Will George, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023 The two worked closely together during filming and remained friends long after. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Feb. 2023 The board dumped his protegee Bob Chapek soon after, when the company’s stock price nosedived and subscriber growth for the Disney+ service stalled. —Diego Lasarte, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2023 The woman resigned from the agency soon after and filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. —Molly Beck, Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2023 Michael Liedtke, ajc, 4 Feb. 2023 Judge Megan Marshall issued the initial gag order Jan. 3, shortly after Kohberger's arrest, restricting comment from prosecutors, the defense, law enforcement and other officials. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2023 Blisters may appear 12 to 36 hours after trying to rewarm the skin. —Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2023 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may soon be in the running for a statue after top Republicans in the Georgia state Senate announced plans to revive a proposal to memorialize him on the grounds of the state Capitol. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2023 Police found them the next day in a vacant house south of the zoo after getting a tip. —Jamie Stengle, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2023 Apple shares fell about 3% in postmarket trading after the tech behemoth announced its first quarterly revenue decline in nearly four years. —Hannah Miao, WSJ, 2 Feb. 2023 Well, on Wednesday, hours after the 2023 recruiting class was announced on National Signing Day, Dillingham had already gotten a major pledge for the 2024 signing class. —Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2023 Los Angeles International finished the year with 65.9 million passengers after getting 88.1 million in 2019, Los Angeles World Airports data shows. —Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023 Ivana Pino, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2023 What does your after-party look like once the show ends? —Calie Schepp, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022 Investing early: Some experts recommend setting aside anywhere from 15%-25% of your after-tax income for investing, although this could look a little different for everyone. —Ivana Pino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2022 And in the after end of the console is a sink and barbecue that offers service to a dining settee that ostensibly seats eight people, though that seems optimistic if everyone shows up at the same time. —Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022 Graham delivered a stunning state-of-the-art package, with its 300-foot stage, striking live video projections of the after-dark headliners, and a 300,000watt sound system that amplified the music with crystalline presence. —Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s an air of optimism in the capital that hasn’t been felt since the Fabio Capello era, with the after glow of winning the UEFA EFA +0.6% Europa Conference League still very much in effect. —Emmet Gates, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 On Wednesday, the mom of three, 34, shared to Instagram an update regarding her hair loss — an after effect of her 2020 pregnancy — revealing that her hairline has been growing in over the past few months. —Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2022 The actor's post came with a series of photos from the process, including a before-and-after split of him on the show. —Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022 James Parker, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2022 One reason: Japanese content producers have long focused on their much larger home market, while regarding global sales as an after-thought. —Mark Schilling, Variety, 6 Dec. 2022 As one of the most recognizable names in men’s grooming, Cremo cologne is a perfect after-shave cologne. —Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022 Vegetables get a flavor makeover With vegetables being produced to look perfect on the supermarket shelf, taste has become an after-thought. —CBS News, 25 Nov. 2022 Brown finished with the second-most completions and the fourth-most rushing yards, and also became the first Andover player to dropkick a successful point-after in the Thanksgiving win. —Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Nov. 2022 The reasons are varied for Robinson being an after-thought in the Rams’ passing attack. —Jay Paris, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2022 There were no phones documenting our every move; people just turned up, at the club, at the afters, at the after-afters, climbing through windows at 8am the next morning in sunglasses with water guns and Red Stripes. —Cj Thurlow, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2022 The realization the tournament has not been as energy-sapping as some predicted has meant the debate on impact is now concentrating on the mental after-effects. —Zak Garner-purkis, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022 See More
Adverb
Soon after, as CBS and Viacom combined, then changed its name to Paramount Global, Cruthers ascended to his current post as the conglomerate’s chief global security officer. —Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023 The extra-hydrating effect will have your lips feeling silky smooth, even after. —Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 27 Jan. 2023 Some meats get grilled after, and others are served as is. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023 Don’t expect an all-electric variant to follow soon after, though. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2023 On the other hand, while these companies may not have the scale of an Amazon or a Walmart just yet, startups have something that the Fortune 500 do not: the ability to choose what problems to go after. —Will George, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023 The two worked closely together during filming and remained friends long after. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Feb. 2023 The board dumped his protegee Bob Chapek soon after, when the company’s stock price nosedived and subscriber growth for the Disney+ service stalled. —Diego Lasarte, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2023 The woman resigned from the agency soon after and filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. —Molly Beck, Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2023 Preposition
The nine-member jury reached its verdict after less that two hours of deliberation following a three-week trial. —Michael Liedtke, ajc, 4 Feb. 2023 Judge Megan Marshall issued the initial gag order Jan. 3, shortly after Kohberger's arrest, restricting comment from prosecutors, the defense, law enforcement and other officials. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2023 Blisters may appear 12 to 36 hours after trying to rewarm the skin. —Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2023 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may soon be in the running for a statue after top Republicans in the Georgia state Senate announced plans to revive a proposal to memorialize him on the grounds of the state Capitol. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2023 Police found them the next day in a vacant house south of the zoo after getting a tip. —Jamie Stengle, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2023 Apple shares fell about 3% in postmarket trading after the tech behemoth announced its first quarterly revenue decline in nearly four years. —Hannah Miao, WSJ, 2 Feb. 2023 Well, on Wednesday, hours after the 2023 recruiting class was announced on National Signing Day, Dillingham had already gotten a major pledge for the 2024 signing class. —Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2023 Los Angeles International finished the year with 65.9 million passengers after getting 88.1 million in 2019, Los Angeles World Airports data shows. —Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023 Adjective
As a general rule, experts suggest investing between 15% to 25% of your after-tax income. —Ivana Pino, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2023 What does your after-party look like once the show ends? —Calie Schepp, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022 Investing early: Some experts recommend setting aside anywhere from 15%-25% of your after-tax income for investing, although this could look a little different for everyone. —Ivana Pino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2022 And in the after end of the console is a sink and barbecue that offers service to a dining settee that ostensibly seats eight people, though that seems optimistic if everyone shows up at the same time. —Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022 Graham delivered a stunning state-of-the-art package, with its 300-foot stage, striking live video projections of the after-dark headliners, and a 300,000watt sound system that amplified the music with crystalline presence. —Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s an air of optimism in the capital that hasn’t been felt since the Fabio Capello era, with the after glow of winning the UEFA EFA +0.6% Europa Conference League still very much in effect. —Emmet Gates, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 On Wednesday, the mom of three, 34, shared to Instagram an update regarding her hair loss — an after effect of her 2020 pregnancy — revealing that her hairline has been growing in over the past few months. —Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2022 The actor's post came with a series of photos from the process, including a before-and-after split of him on the show. —Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022 Noun
It was written in the after-roar of one war, with another boiling up on the horizon. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2022 One reason: Japanese content producers have long focused on their much larger home market, while regarding global sales as an after-thought. —Mark Schilling, Variety, 6 Dec. 2022 As one of the most recognizable names in men’s grooming, Cremo cologne is a perfect after-shave cologne. —Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022 Vegetables get a flavor makeover With vegetables being produced to look perfect on the supermarket shelf, taste has become an after-thought. —CBS News, 25 Nov. 2022 Brown finished with the second-most completions and the fourth-most rushing yards, and also became the first Andover player to dropkick a successful point-after in the Thanksgiving win. —Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Nov. 2022 The reasons are varied for Robinson being an after-thought in the Rams’ passing attack. —Jay Paris, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2022 There were no phones documenting our every move; people just turned up, at the club, at the afters, at the after-afters, climbing through windows at 8am the next morning in sunglasses with water guns and Red Stripes. —Cj Thurlow, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2022 The realization the tournament has not been as energy-sapping as some predicted has meant the debate on impact is now concentrating on the mental after-effects. —Zak Garner-purkis, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb
Middle English after, efter, going back to Old English æfter, going back to Germanic *after- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German aftar "after, behind," Old Norse eptir, Gothic aptaro), perhaps from Indo-European *h1epi-, *h1opi- "on, at" + *-ter-, suffix of separation and distinctness — more at epi-
Note: The initial element has alternatively been assigned to Indo-European *h2epo-, "(away) from" (see of entry 1); cf. Sanskrit apataram, "farther off." In a Germanic context the forms may well have interacted with each other.
Preposition
Middle English after, efter, going back to Old English æfter, identical with the adverb æfter after entry 1 when governing an object
Conjunction
Middle English, elliptically for after that, from after after entry 2 + that that entry 2
Adjective
independent use of after-
Auxiliary verb
after entry 2, copying Irish prepositional constructions tar éis, i ndiaidh, etc.
Noun
by shortening
Prefix
Middle English after, going back to Old English æfter, form in composition of adverbial æfter after entry 1
First Known Use
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Preposition
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Conjunction
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Auxiliary Verb
1778, in the meaning defined above
Noun
circa 1902, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing after
Kids Definition
after
1 of 4 adverb af·ter ˈaf-tər
: following in time or place : later, behind
after
2 of 4 preposition1
a
: behind in time or place
following after us
after dinner
b
: below in rank or order
the highest mountain after Mount Everest
2
: for the reason of catching, seizing, or getting
ran after the ball
go after gold
3
a
: with the name of or a name derived from that of
named after his father
b
: in imitation of
patterned after a Gothic cathedral
after
3 of 4 conjunction : later than the time when
opened the door after she knocked
after
4 of 4 adjective1
: later in time
in after years
2
: located toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
after 1 of 3
preposition
as in following
subsequent to in time or order the brass band came right after the mayor in the parade Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- following
- behind
- past
- since
- below
- après
- next to
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- before
- of
- prior to
- to
- previous to
- towards
- toward
- afore
- ere
- ahead of
after
2 of 3adverb
as in later
following in time or place upon seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, and for a long time after, Irma wanted to play the part of the Mouse King Synonyms & Similar Words
- later
- afterward
- thereafter
- afterwards
- next
- subsequently
- then
- soon
- since
- latterly
- hereafter
- thereupon
- presently
- infra
- hereinbelow
- by and by
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- before
- earlier
- previously
- ahead
- beforehand
- anteriorly
- formerly
- afore
- antecedently
- heretofore
- theretofore
after
3 of 3adjective
1
as in back
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part had heard that the after section of the cruise ship had more spacious cabins Synonyms & Similar Words
- back
- rear
- aft
- hind
- hinder
- dorsal
- posterior
- hindmost
- rearward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- front
- forward
- anterior
- frontal
- fore
- ventral
2
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war Synonyms & Similar Words
- subsequent
- later
- ensuing
- late
- latest
- delayed
- following
- last
- behind
- latter
- closing
- final
- posterior
- eventual
- concluding
- belated
- slow
- terminal
- ultimate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- previous
- prior
- former
- precedent
- fore
- preceding
- early
- foregoing
- anterior
- premature
- antecedent
- advanced
- advance