later 1 of 2

adverb

ˈlā-tər How to pronounce later (audio)
Definition of laternext
as in afterward
following in time or place we're going to go to the mall later on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

later

2 of 2

adjective

ˈlā-tər How to pronounce later (audio)
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else the details of the plan will be filled in at a later date

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of later
Adverb
Nearly two months later, support is still pouring in for victims of the wildfires that ripped through southern Colorado earlier this summer. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 With a direct flight from Atlanta to Argyle International Airport, five hours later, a diverse world unfolded. — Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Additional information on dates, tickets and packages will be announced at a later date. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Results of the survey, along with my thoughts on responses, will be published at a later date. — Christian Clark, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for later
Recent Examples of Synonyms for later
  1. afterward
  2. subsequent
  3. after
  4. thereafter
Adverb
  • His sprint into the crowd afterwards to seek out his partner made a moment already loaded with emotion even more memorable.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • An impressive backheel flick from Esposito put Inter 3-1 up in early in the second half and Yann Bisseck added a fourth shortly afterwards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of afterward
Adjective
  • Keeley is all optimism in the buildup to the team’s first game — merely a friendly against Hayes and Yeading, but important nonetheless — but subsequent events threaten to squelch those good feelings.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The directive calls for the Navy to develop a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) with traditional steam catapults on the future USS Doris Miller and subsequent carriers.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Adverb
  • At some point after, the woman said she was woken up by the sound of glass breaking and then allegedly saw Freitag enter the home through a shattered glass sliding door, according to the warrant affidavit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Soon after, the two men spoke on the phone, one of them a teenager, the other already a rising figure inside Israeli military intelligence.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • Shortly thereafter, once Bunker came his way, the opportunity to depict a man who’s drastically turning his life around became a fittingly cathartic parallel to Pelphrey’s own recovery journey.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Wright built a vacation rental in the area in 2017 and started contacting the city shortly thereafter.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of thereafter

Phrases Containing later

Browse Nearby Words

latent
later
lateral
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Cite this Entry

“Later.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/later. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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