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
Synonyms
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 WebLuis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Soon after, the couple started a weekly newspaper called the Ouachita Citizen.
—Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the statistician Jeff Sagarin applied Elo to rank NFL teams outside their official league standings.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
Soon after, fans discovered that the secret words were hidden within song lyrics on Apple Music.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Soon after, McGee and his father drove two days and some 800 miles from Boerne, Tex., to the owner’s home in Selden, Kan.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the league announced that 36 of the Fever’s 40 regular season games would air on national TV.
—Alyssa Meyers, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the airport leased him a derelict hangar where snow-removal equipment was being stored.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Not long after, Priest won the 2023 Money in the Bank ladder match, crowning himself Señor Money in the Bank afterwards, leading to his current championship reign.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
Photo: Mirai Sahara/Courtesy of 10ft Single by Stella Dallas
Stella Dallas
Think of this pair of side-by-side stores named Stella Dallas Living and 10ft Single by Stella Dallas (named after the 1923 Olive Higgins Prouty film of the same name) as sisters, not twins.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Paris Hilton Welcomes Second Baby, a Girl, with Husband Carter Reum: 'So Much to Be Grateful For'
Months after sharing the announcement of her baby girl, Hilton introduced London to the world by sharing the first official photos of her daughter exclusively with PEOPLE on April 19.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Trump hush money trial: Judge sets opening statements for Monday
Trump's lawyers are expected to focus their efforts on going after the credibility of prosecution witnesses, suggesting the case itself is politically motivated and arguing the former president never intended to commit a crime.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Smart was found nine months after her abduction; Patterson is still missing.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
But after rapid improvement in the fall, price increases have accelerated on a monthly basis to a range of 0.3% to 0.4% so far this year.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The partygoers who had come from Denmark, Germany and cities across the U.S. poured themselves coffee and took in the glamorous poolside setting after celebrating Nathan the previous evening with testimonials and dinner made with the help of her family, friends and colleagues.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Media and entertainment companies maintained that their only goal was to go after foreign websites that distribute unauthorized copies of content.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Friday through Sunday night, different groups of musicians will take the stage from 11 p.m. until after 1 a.m., with trombonist Vincent Chandler hosting an after hours jam session Sunday night.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 31 Aug. 2023
Even following its after hours tumble, the company’s shares fetch around 13 times forward earnings—a premium to American Eagle Outfitters, PVH Corp. and VF Corp. This analysis comes from the Journal's Heard on the Street team.
—Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2023
The after stateroom can be optioned as a lounge, turning the Fiart 43 into an excellent choice for a cruising couple who is ready to say ciao, bella!, albeit with a noticeable American accent.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2023
As a general rule, experts suggest investing between 15% to 25% of your after-tax income.
—Ivana Pino, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2023
What does your after-party look like once the show ends?
—Calie Schepp, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022
Investing early: Some experts recommend setting aside anywhere from 15%-25% of your after-tax income for investing, although this could look a little different for everyone.
—Ivana Pino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2022
And in the after end of the console is a sink and barbecue that offers service to a dining settee that ostensibly seats eight people, though that seems optimistic if everyone shows up at the same time.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022
Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
From red carpet arrivals to the show to the after party, there’s visual continuity, explains MaryJane Partlow, the Academy’s executive vice president, awards production and special events.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
Of course, the sheer trend also made an appearance at the afters, and attendees took different approaches to baring it all.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
The company is owned by FL Entertainment, which also posted profits on Thursday showing revenues of €4.5 billion ($5.8 billion) two years afters making its debut on the Amsterdam stock market.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
The benefit event, with an after party for $1000 Silver and $1500 Gold contributors, was part of a string of comedy shows planned for across the U.S. as the RFK Jr. campaign looks to continue raising campaign funds.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024
Moody will enter his first postseason under extra scrutiny after missing a 38-yard field-goal attempt, then slicing a point-after try to snap his phenomenal 60-for-60 start.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024
In the after photo, Nugget looks impeccably coiffed — and is even sporting a small bow around her neck.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
Chiefs Kingdom celebrated their back-to-back Super Bowl wins with an after party at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas.
—Alex Ross, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024
Adverb
The first strike hit just past midnight, and the second one soon after, said Mr. al-Masri, an accountant who was sheltering with his family in a tent in a large encampment in Rafah.
—Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Soon after, the couple started a weekly newspaper called the Ouachita Citizen.
—Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the statistician Jeff Sagarin applied Elo to rank NFL teams outside their official league standings.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
Soon after, fans discovered that the secret words were hidden within song lyrics on Apple Music.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Soon after, McGee and his father drove two days and some 800 miles from Boerne, Tex., to the owner’s home in Selden, Kan.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the league announced that 36 of the Fever’s 40 regular season games would air on national TV.
—Alyssa Meyers, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Not long after, the airport leased him a derelict hangar where snow-removal equipment was being stored.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Not long after, Priest won the 2023 Money in the Bank ladder match, crowning himself Señor Money in the Bank afterwards, leading to his current championship reign.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Preposition
It is named after the co-founder of Atlantic Records.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
Photo: Mirai Sahara/Courtesy of 10ft Single by Stella Dallas
Stella Dallas
Think of this pair of side-by-side stores named Stella Dallas Living and 10ft Single by Stella Dallas (named after the 1923 Olive Higgins Prouty film of the same name) as sisters, not twins.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Paris Hilton Welcomes Second Baby, a Girl, with Husband Carter Reum: 'So Much to Be Grateful For'
Months after sharing the announcement of her baby girl, Hilton introduced London to the world by sharing the first official photos of her daughter exclusively with PEOPLE on April 19.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Trump hush money trial: Judge sets opening statements for Monday
Trump's lawyers are expected to focus their efforts on going after the credibility of prosecution witnesses, suggesting the case itself is politically motivated and arguing the former president never intended to commit a crime.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Smart was found nine months after her abduction; Patterson is still missing.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
But after rapid improvement in the fall, price increases have accelerated on a monthly basis to a range of 0.3% to 0.4% so far this year.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The partygoers who had come from Denmark, Germany and cities across the U.S. poured themselves coffee and took in the glamorous poolside setting after celebrating Nathan the previous evening with testimonials and dinner made with the help of her family, friends and colleagues.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Media and entertainment companies maintained that their only goal was to go after foreign websites that distribute unauthorized copies of content.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Following the show’s taping, the two also stepped out for the after party together.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Friday through Sunday night, different groups of musicians will take the stage from 11 p.m. until after 1 a.m., with trombonist Vincent Chandler hosting an after hours jam session Sunday night.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 31 Aug. 2023
Even following its after hours tumble, the company’s shares fetch around 13 times forward earnings—a premium to American Eagle Outfitters, PVH Corp. and VF Corp. This analysis comes from the Journal's Heard on the Street team.
—Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2023
The after stateroom can be optioned as a lounge, turning the Fiart 43 into an excellent choice for a cruising couple who is ready to say ciao, bella!, albeit with a noticeable American accent.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2023
As a general rule, experts suggest investing between 15% to 25% of your after-tax income.
—Ivana Pino, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2023
What does your after-party look like once the show ends?
—Calie Schepp, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022
Investing early: Some experts recommend setting aside anywhere from 15%-25% of your after-tax income for investing, although this could look a little different for everyone.
—Ivana Pino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2022
And in the after end of the console is a sink and barbecue that offers service to a dining settee that ostensibly seats eight people, though that seems optimistic if everyone shows up at the same time.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022
Noun
School operations and afters chool programs will continue as planned, officials said.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
From red carpet arrivals to the show to the after party, there’s visual continuity, explains MaryJane Partlow, the Academy’s executive vice president, awards production and special events.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
Of course, the sheer trend also made an appearance at the afters, and attendees took different approaches to baring it all.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024
The company is owned by FL Entertainment, which also posted profits on Thursday showing revenues of €4.5 billion ($5.8 billion) two years afters making its debut on the Amsterdam stock market.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
The benefit event, with an after party for $1000 Silver and $1500 Gold contributors, was part of a string of comedy shows planned for across the U.S. as the RFK Jr. campaign looks to continue raising campaign funds.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024
Moody will enter his first postseason under extra scrutiny after missing a 38-yard field-goal attempt, then slicing a point-after try to snap his phenomenal 60-for-60 start.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024
In the after photo, Nugget looks impeccably coiffed — and is even sporting a small bow around her neck.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
Chiefs Kingdom celebrated their back-to-back Super Bowl wins with an after party at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas.
—Alex Ross, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'after.' 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 after
Cite this Entry
“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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