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 Hemingway
see also take after
: 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
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
Jim Talamonti, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2025
Soon after, a survey found a new gelatinous ball of fresh eggs near the microphone that recorded it.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 July 2025
Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 July 2025
Innocent bystanders and vacationers have become fill-ins for lifeguards, risking their own lives to help struggling swimmers, with several dying in the process: Parents going in after their children.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Following the show’s taping, the two also stepped out for the after party together.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025
The city had gay bars, backrooms, afters, and parties by the train tracks.
—Hazlitt, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for after
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Adverb
Soon after, Pramaggiore stepped down from her post as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
—Jim Talamonti, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2025
Soon after, a survey found a new gelatinous ball of fresh eggs near the microphone that recorded it.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 July 2025
Preposition
Buxton gets a breather after an eventful week Byron Buxton was out of the lineup Sunday, but only because Baldelli wanted to give him a breather.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 July 2025
Innocent bystanders and vacationers have become fill-ins for lifeguards, risking their own lives to help struggling swimmers, with several dying in the process: Parents going in after their children.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
In this case, both parties agreed that the after value was $106,750.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Following the show’s taping, the two also stepped out for the after party together.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
Fortunately, the after care is simple and easy, and only takes a few moments.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025
The city had gay bars, backrooms, afters, and parties by the train tracks.
—Hazlitt, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for after
Cite this Entry
“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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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