thereafter

adverb

there·​af·​ter t͟her-ˈaf-tər 

1

: after that

2

archaic : according to that : accordingly

Synonyms of thereafter

• later
• afterward
• after

Examples of thereafter in a Sentence

Thereafter, the two companies operated in full partnership.

gave his farewell speech and left the room shortly thereafter

Recent Examples on the Web

In the second, highly lethal variant of the Black Death, patients typically exhibited no initial symptoms, such as the onset of a fever or the appearance of buboes, but instead would suddenly begin to vomit up blood (that was usually dark in color) and typically died soon thereafter. —Literary Hub, 27 May 2026

Talbert had been contacted by Concord police shortly after the crimes in 2008, but had fled the state shortly thereafter, the report said. —Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026

That was the difference as rain began to fall shortly thereafter, prompting NASCAR to park the field on pit road. —Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 25 May 2026

Soon thereafter, Barber was arrested, police said. —Arkansas Online, 23 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for thereafter

• hereafter
• after
• drafter
• laughter
• rafter
• hereinafter
• thereinafter

Kids Definition

thereafter

adverb

there·​af·​ter t͟ha-ˈraf-tər 

t͟he-

: after that

it was returned shortly thereafter