afterlife

noun af·ter·life \ ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of afterlife

1 : an existence after death

2 : a later period in one's life

3 : a period of continued or renewed use, existence, or popularity beyond what is normal, primary, or expected

a TV show with a long afterlife in syndication

See afterlife defined for English-language learners

See afterlife defined for kids

Examples of afterlife in a Sentence

Does he believe in an afterlife?
written in afterlife, his memoirs reveal a kinder, more forgiving man

Recent Examples of afterlife from the Web

And Philadelphia’s discards, rescued by Hagins’ discerning hand, have a surprising afterlife.

— samantha melamed, Philly.com, "How Philly's discarded shoes are saving lives in Haiti and Africa," 10 Apr. 2018
Tut is all about the tomb, the afterlife and desperate immortality — a fantastically grandiose and convoluted system that would help define Western civilization for the next several thousand years.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "How good is the King Tut exhibition? An art critic weighs in," 29 Mar. 2018
Here are some of Hawking’s most interesting thoughts about death, the afterlife and God.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "Stephen Hawking Was an Atheist. Here’s What He Said About God, Heaven and His Own Death," 14 Mar. 2018
Graham’s passing sparked an outpouring of tributes in his honor, and led admirers to look up his words on topics like death and the afterlife.

— megan friedman, Country Living, "What Evangelical Pastor Billy Graham Said About His Own Death," 21 Feb. 2018
Appropriately, his paintings’ titles often come from the great beyond: Spirit art is a type of picture said to be guided from the afterlife, while Maga is a Hindu priestly caste.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Tony DeLap's hybrids of painting and sculpture are impossible objects," 16 Mar. 2018
This leads me to a profound realization that there probably is no heaven and no afterlife either.

— maria vultaggio, Newsweek, "16 Inspirational Stephen Hawking Quotes About Life, the Universe and More," 14 Mar. 2018
From the afterlife, Michael and Janet watch her progress with glee.

— scott meslow, GQ, "The Good Place," 2 Feb. 2018
The Discovery is a 2017 Netflix film in which Robert Redford plays a scientist who proves that the afterlife is real.

— michael shermer, Scientific American, "Why the “You” in an Afterlife Wouldn't Really Be You," 1 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afterlife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of afterlife

after- + ¹life

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1589

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

afterlife Synonyms

AFTERLIFE Defined for English Language Learners

afterlife

noun

Definition of afterlife for English Language Learners

: a life that some people believe exists after death

AFTERLIFE Defined for Kids

afterlife

noun af·ter·life \ ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf \

Definition of afterlife for Students

: an existence after death

Learn More about afterlife

See words that rhyme with afterlife Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for afterlife Spanish Central: Translation of afterlife Nglish: Translation of afterlife for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about afterlife

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up afterlife? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

afterlife

Definition of afterlife

Examples of afterlife in a Sentence

Recent Examples of afterlife from the Web

Origin and Etymology of afterlife

afterlife Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

AFTERLIFE Defined for English Language Learners

afterlife

Definition of afterlife for English Language Learners

AFTERLIFE Defined for Kids

afterlife

Definition of afterlife for Students

Learn More about afterlife

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Rather Than': Is It a Conjunction or Preposition?

April 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Janelle Monáe Out as 'Pansexual'

All the Hits

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes