afterward

adverb

af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tər-wərd How to pronounce afterward (audio)
ˈaf-tə-
variants or afterwards
ˈaf-tər-wərdz How to pronounce afterward (audio)
ˈaf-tə-
: at a later or succeeding time : subsequently, thereafter
found out about it long afterward

Examples of afterward in a Sentence

He found out about it long afterward. Afterward, she got a promotion.
Recent Examples on the Web Scrub the bath with a vinegar solution periodically and rinse it out afterward. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024 New findings are too preliminary The new study analyzed data on 20,000 people who answered questions about their 24-hour eating habits on two days during the first year of enrollment in a long-term analysis of the health of US adults, then looked back at death records in the years afterward. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 Allen’s family protested outside the business for months afterward, preventing it from reopening. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 But even afterward, lawmakers said the politics of funding Homeland Security were so difficult that appropriators would probably have to resort to a long-term stopgap spending measure, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, rather than the preferred year-long financing bill. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Flight with 153 Passengers Veers Off Course After Both Pilots Fall Asleep in Cockpit Mike Allard, a passenger on the flight, shared his experience afterward with Houston’s KTRK. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 In one scene, Keoghan watches Elordi masturbate in a bathtub and afterward is seen licking up Elordi’s semen around the tub’s drain. Anna Tingley, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 This music is supremely inviting, with melodies that follow the general contours of R&B, but without any agony, no messy human catharsis to clean up afterward. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Light snow or a snow-rain mix is expected into early Saturday morning between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. with a chance of rain afterward, although there is little to no snow accumulation expected. Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'afterward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterward was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near afterward

Cite this Entry

“Afterward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterward. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

afterward

adverb
af·​ter·​ward ˈaf-tə(r)-wərd How to pronounce afterward (audio)
variants or afterwards
: at a later time

More from Merriam-Webster on afterward

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