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 of afterward

• 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

If the court approves the settlement, payments will be distributed afterward. —Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

So for a full year afterward, Sanchez and his team strategized how to chip away at all the companies that don’t lease trucks from Ryder or any of its competitors, nor outsource transportation to them. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025

Soon afterward, my mother was summarily banished from The Perfect Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving. —Daisy Rockwell, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

Inaba, 57, offered high praise afterward. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 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