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

• after
• later
• latterly
• subsequently
• thereafter

Examples of afterward in a Sentence

He found out about it long afterward.

Afterward, she got a promotion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Holmes followed Sale with an equally strong start Saturday — seven innings, six hits, one run — and afterward was asked about Sale’s mention the night before of how Holmes and Schwellenbach had helped in Sale’s turnaround. —David O'Brien, New York Times, 26 May 2025

You’re Set Up To Fail—Then Blamed For It A particularly disheartening sign is when you’re put in a position where success is nearly impossible—unclear instructions, unrealistic deadlines, or being assigned tasks outside your skill set—only to be criticized afterward. —Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

Trump had threatened big reciprocal tariffs on the EU and a host of countries in early April but paused all them, except for tariffs on China, shortly afterward. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 May 2025

Nowhere did the gold standard develop a more distinguished pedigree than in Britain, which established it in the 1700s and maintained it almost continuously until World War I. Most countries suspended the gold standard during the War but returned to it afterward. —Time, 23 May 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