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 to indicate the object of a stated or implied action
go after gold
was asking after you
3
: so as to resemble: such as
a
: in accordance with
He's a man after my own heart.
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 Hurston
see also:
: subsequently to the time when
We will come after we make plans.
1
: later in time
in after years
2
[Middle English, probably from afte aft entry 1 + -er -er entry 1]
: located toward the rear and especially toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
an after cabin
af·ter
ˈäf-tər 
chiefly Ireland
—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
J. M. Synge1
a
—used as the first part of a compound to indicate an event or entity that follows or results from the thing denoted by the second part of the compound
afterbirth
afterlife
afternoon
b
—used as the first part of a compound to indicate an event or entity of the same nature as the thing denoted by the second part of the compound but which follows that event or entity and is less intense or significant
afterglow
aftershock
afterthought
2
—the rear or lower part
afterdeck
Synonyms of after
Relevance
Adverb
Preposition
Adjective
Examples of after in a Sentence
Adverb
Don't tell them until after.
I expected her then, but she arrived the week after.
He ate lunch and left just after.
Preposition
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.
Conjunction
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.
Adjective
had heard that the after section of the cruise ship had more spacious cabins
in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war
Recent Examples on the Web
Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
Because the eggs can survive in the soil as well, wear gloves when gardening and wash hands after outdoor activities.
—Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Partying With The Club Kids The dinner was lively and fun but the decibel levels were mere whispers compared to the music DJ Bobby Beethoven was blasting out at the after party for Jordan Firstman’s feature sensation Club Kid.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Arushi Jacob, Variety, 1 June 2026
The Rosin Box Project, a collective of ballet rebels who dance en pointe to the beat of different choreographers, is inviting audiences to experience a before-and-after production this week.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for after
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
If not, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands after.
—Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Preposition
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was emotional, bursting into tears as the final horn blew and again choking back emotions after being named the Most Valuable Player of the WCF.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
Because the eggs can survive in the soil as well, wear gloves when gardening and wash hands after outdoor activities.
—Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Adjective
Janice Dickinson debuted her new facelift for the first time in before-and-after photos.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Partying With The Club Kids The dinner was lively and fun but the decibel levels were mere whispers compared to the music DJ Bobby Beethoven was blasting out at the after party for Jordan Firstman’s feature sensation Club Kid.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Noun
Shrek’s beloved quest for true love, personal growth, and basic privacy lands under the stars for a night of fairy-tale chaos and happily-clever-afters.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 1 June 2026
The Rosin Box Project, a collective of ballet rebels who dance en pointe to the beat of different choreographers, is inviting audiences to experience a before-and-after production this week.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for after
Cite this Entry
“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
after
2 of 4 preposition1
a
: behind in time or place
following after us
after dinner
b
: below in rank or order
the highest mountain after Mount Everest
2
: for the reason of catching, seizing, or getting
ran after the ball
go after gold
3
a
: with the name of or a name derived from that of
named after his father
b
: in imitation of
patterned after a Gothic cathedral
after
3 of 4 conjunction
: later than the time when
opened the door after she knocked
after
4 of 4 adjective1
: later in time
in after years
2
: located toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft
Etymology
Adverb
Old English æfter "behind, later"
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