afterward

adverb

af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tər-wərd 

ˈaf-tə-

variants or afterwards

ˈaf-tər-wərdz 

ˈaf-tə-

: at a later or succeeding time : subsequently, thereafter

found out about it long afterward

Synonyms of afterward

• later
• after
• thereafter

Examples of afterward in a Sentence

He found out about it long afterward.

Afterward, she got a promotion.

Recent Examples on the Web

The show grew substantially in 2024 but really broke out this year, scoring more than a billion minutes of watch time for five straight weeks — peaking with the finale — and staying on the Nielsen charts for a month afterward (then popping up once more in August for the reunion show). —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025

Police reportedly arrived a short time afterward, and Coleman later learned the child was safe and his parents had been located. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

DuMont lost the race and returned to broadcasting and WGN-AM afterward as producer of conservative talk show host Howard Miller's program. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Not long afterward, a poor effort from William Nylander on the Leafs’ top power play unit to just enter the Blackhawks zone led to a turnover and a short-handed goal against. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afterward "behind, in the rear, at a later time," going back to Old English æfterweard "behind, following," from æfter after entry 1 + -weard -ward entry 2; Middle English afterwardes, efterwardes "at a later time," from afterward + -es -s entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

afterward

adverb

af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tə(r)-wərd 

variants or afterwards

-wərdz 

: at a later time