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 gold
was 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 Hurston
see also:
: subsequently to the time when
We will come after we make plans.
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
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. Synge1
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
afterbirth
afterlife
afternoon
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
afterglow
aftershock
afterthought
2
—the rear or lower part
afterdeck
Synonyms of after
Relevance
Adverb
Preposition
Adjective
Examples of after in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
Firefighters responded and suppressed the fire soon after.
—Jack Hannah, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
And now, after bouncing through multiple organizations since leaving the Phillies, Marte has found a new opportunity with the team’s in-state rival.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Another mass shooting at an after hours, unlicensed club.
—Julianna Mejia, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
Victoria Oliva, Allure, 23 June 2026
Lee Trinh, owner of Banh Mi Spot, has been in the neighborhood for 15 years and has seen the before and the after.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for after
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Under moderately dry conditions, Powell's level would fall to 3,500 feet above sea level, and Mead's would likely fall to 975 feet shortly after.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
Firefighters responded and suppressed the fire soon after.
—Jack Hannah, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Preposition
Argentina won the last World Cup after losing its opener to lowly Saudi Arabia, Portugal won Euro 2016 after sneaking into the knockouts following three draws in the group stage and Spain won the 2010 World Cup after losing its opening match to Switzerland.
—Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
And now, after bouncing through multiple organizations since leaving the Phillies, Marte has found a new opportunity with the team’s in-state rival.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Adjective
Shortly after coming clean about undergoing plastic surgery with before-and-after photos, the 64 year old gave her new look its red carpet debut at the 2026 Tony Awards on June 7.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Another mass shooting at an after hours, unlicensed club.
—Julianna Mejia, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
Noun
Before-and-afters, on the other hand, can tell you a lot.
—Victoria Oliva, Allure, 23 June 2026
Lee Trinh, owner of Banh Mi Spot, has been in the neighborhood for 15 years and has seen the before and the after.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for after
Cite this Entry
“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
Etymology
Adverb
Old English æfter "behind, later"
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