: near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft
called all hands aft
: rearward, after sense 2
the aft decks
aft
3 of 5Scottish variant of oft
afternoon
1
American Federation of Teachers
2
automatic fine-tuning
Synonyms
Examples of aft in a Sentence
Adverb
We stood on the ship's deck facing aft.
The plane's exits are located fore and aft.
Adjective
the ship's fore and aft cabins
The fore and aft exits can both be used in an emergency.
Recent Examples on the Web
Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Replacing Avocette III’s 86-year-old Sterling gas motors with twin 435 hp D6 Volvo Penta IPS diesels—and mounting them 22 feet farther aft.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2021
Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023
This meant the buoyancy tanks needed to shift aft, along with the battery banks and main electronics.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2022
The TenNine’s most immediately apparent design feature, its aft-protruding sole, is also its most important.
—Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2020
First developed by Wien Air Alaska, the plane featured a flexible partition that could be moved forward or aft, depending on the amount of cargo being shipped.
—Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2022
Functioning as a sea-view terrace complete with aft-facing sofa and glass bulwarks, its elevated position also increases the ceiling height in the semi-open beach club on the deck below.
—Richard Alban, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2021
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2023
In the immediate aftermath, Russian flight controllers attempted to use the European robotic arm, attached to the Russian segment of the station, to observe the aft end of the Soyuz where the leak occurred.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 16 Dec. 2022
Outside, meanwhile, the aft deck pulls focus with a plunge pool, a shaded dining area and plush lounge seating.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2023
Far Far Away has an aft-heavy profile, with guest areas placed near the stern while, like with the new 41, a large tender deck is situated forward.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2023
If booking a suite, note that aft ones possess private outdoor hot tubs with amazing views.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2022
Other effective changes include large sliding-glass doors that create a flow between the main salon and the exterior aft deck.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2022
The leak appears to have originated in an external cooling loop located at the aft end of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2022
And on its high-speed setting, the rear ventilation blower, mounted on the headliner just aft of the front seats, sounds like a Huey gunship on takeoff.
—John Phillips, Car and Driver, 28 Nov. 2022
Adverb
Bars and Restaurants The best seat in the house was aft, on the Lido deck, soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine with a flute of Champagne.
—Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Replacing Avocette III’s 86-year-old Sterling gas motors with twin 435 hp D6 Volvo Penta IPS diesels—and mounting them 22 feet farther aft.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2021
Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023
This meant the buoyancy tanks needed to shift aft, along with the battery banks and main electronics.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2022
The TenNine’s most immediately apparent design feature, its aft-protruding sole, is also its most important.
—Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2020
First developed by Wien Air Alaska, the plane featured a flexible partition that could be moved forward or aft, depending on the amount of cargo being shipped.
—Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2022
Functioning as a sea-view terrace complete with aft-facing sofa and glass bulwarks, its elevated position also increases the ceiling height in the semi-open beach club on the deck below.
—Richard Alban, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2021
Adjective
At the opposite end, the aft cockpit is perfect for alfresco dining or lounging.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2023
In the immediate aftermath, Russian flight controllers attempted to use the European robotic arm, attached to the Russian segment of the station, to observe the aft end of the Soyuz where the leak occurred.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 16 Dec. 2022
Outside, meanwhile, the aft deck pulls focus with a plunge pool, a shaded dining area and plush lounge seating.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2023
Far Far Away has an aft-heavy profile, with guest areas placed near the stern while, like with the new 41, a large tender deck is situated forward.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2023
If booking a suite, note that aft ones possess private outdoor hot tubs with amazing views.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2022
Other effective changes include large sliding-glass doors that create a flow between the main salon and the exterior aft deck.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2022
The leak appears to have originated in an external cooling loop located at the aft end of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2022
And on its high-speed setting, the rear ventilation blower, mounted on the headliner just aft of the front seats, sounds like a Huey gunship on takeoff.
—John Phillips, Car and Driver, 28 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near aft
Cite this Entry
“Aft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aft. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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