after
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1af·ter
adverb \ˈaf-tər\Definition of AFTER
See Examples of AFTER
- Don't tell them until after.
- I expected her then, but she arrived the week after.
- He ate lunch and left just after.
Origin of AFTER
Middle English, from Old English æfter; akin to Old High German aftar after, and probably to Old English of of
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to AFTER
- Synonyms
- afterward (or afterwards), later, latterly, subsequently, thereafter
- Antonyms
- afore [chiefly dialect], ahead, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, previously
2after
prepositionDefinition of AFTER
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 as a function word to indicate the object of a stated or implied action <go after gold> <was asking after you>
3
: so as to resemble: as a : in accordance with 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>
Examples of AFTER
- 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.
First Known Use of AFTER
before 12th century
3after
conjunctionDefinition of AFTER
: subsequently to the time when <we will come after we make plans>
Examples of AFTER
- 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.
First Known Use of AFTER
before 12th century
4after
adjectiveDefinition of AFTER
1
: later in time <in after years>
2
: located toward the rear and especially toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
Examples of AFTER
- <had heard that the after section of an aircraft is safer in the event of a crash>
- <in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war>
First Known Use of AFTER
before 12th century
5af·ter
verbal auxiliary \ˈäf-tər\Definition of AFTER
chiefly Irish —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>
First Known Use of AFTER
1792
6after
nounLearn More About AFTER
Browse
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up after? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
