hereafter

1 of 3

adverb

here·​af·​ter hir-ˈaf-tər 

1

: after this in sequence or in time

2

: in some future time or state

hereafter

2 of 3

noun

often capitalized

1

: future

2

: an existence beyond earthly life

belief in the hereafter

hereafter

3 of 3

adjective

archaic

: future

Synonyms

Adverb

• afterwards
• later

Noun

• future
• tomorrow
• futurity

Examples of hereafter in a Sentence

Adverb

Hereafter the two companies will operate in full partnership.

We don't know what will happen hereafter.

Noun

apologized, for being late to the meeting and assured his boss that there would be no such recurrences in the hereafter

hoped to be reunited with his deceased wife in the hereafter

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

There is nothing here that indicates, as the late Professor Harbage has well said, that in order to be king hereafter Macbeth must be murderer first. —Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025

Employers now and hereafter must alert their employees to these new rights. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025

Noun

My grandfather sliced you raw for the long refugee road, Gran melded you into near nothing for the sweet hereafter of lamb shank. —Peter Balakian, New Yorker, 14 July 2025

Now, a nearby planetary system has offered clues to our planet’s cosmic hereafter. —Quanta Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hereafter

• the hereafter

Rhymes for hereafter

• hereinafter
• thereinafter
• after
• drafter
• laughter
• rafter
• thereafter

Kids Definition

hereafter

1 of 2 adverb

here·​af·​ter hi(ə)r-ˈaf-tər 

1

: after this

2

: in some future time or state

hereafter

2 of 2 noun

often capitalized

1

: future entry 2 sense 1a

2

: life after death

belief in the hereafter