afterward

adverb

af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tər-wərd 

ˈaf-tə-

variants or afterwards

ˈaf-tər-wərdz 

ˈaf-tə-

: at a later or succeeding time : subsequently, thereafter

found out about it long afterward

Synonyms

• later
• after
• thereafter

Examples of afterward in a Sentence

He found out about it long afterward.

Afterward, she got a promotion.

Recent Examples on the Web

The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 12 July 2025

Don’t miss browsing the ground floor tea counters afterward. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

Foreign services officers will be put on administrative leave for 120 days; afterward, they would be cut. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 11 July 2025

And the series does introduce new character Manny Santos (Colin McCalla), another cop who worked with Olivas and Driscoll and whose change of heart afterward might help Ballard’s defense. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afterward "behind, in the rear, at a later time," going back to Old English æfterweard "behind, following," from æfter after entry 1 + -weard -ward entry 2; Middle English afterwardes, efterwardes "at a later time," from afterward + -es -s entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

afterward

adverb

af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tə(r)-wərd 

variants or afterwards

-wərdz 

: at a later time