after 1 of 3

preposition

Definition of afternext
as in following
subsequent to in time or order the brass band came right after the mayor in the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

after

2 of 3

adverb

ˈaf-tər How to pronounce after (audio)
as in later
following in time or place upon seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, and for a long time after, Irma wanted to play the part of the Mouse King

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

after

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in back
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part had heard that the after section of the cruise ship had more spacious cabins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war

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 after
Preposition
Self also spoke to the fans and answered a few questions after practice. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 But Odysseus, craving road trip tunes after accidentally dropping his mix CDs into Charybdis, must hear their song. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Soon after, Charim Gallery began formally representing her work, mounting several solo- and two-person shows featuring her art. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Europa roughly 5 minutes before Jupiter itself (depending on your location), Callisto and Io about 3 minutes before, and Ganymede roughly 2 minutes after. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The space agency released before-and-after photos of the impact area on Tuesday. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The Danuri captured before-and-after photos of the crash site. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for after
Recent Examples of Synonyms for after
  1. following
  2. later
  3. back
  4. subsequent
  5. behind
  6. afterward
  7. rear
  8. past
Preposition
  • Trump’s request will likely now no longer be considered relevant following Monday’s order.
    — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Definition of following
Adverb
  • But anyone who’s yet to see the earlier series need not fret; while Seven Havens makes reference especially to Korra, any crucial details are reestablished within a narrative that’s set nearly two centuries later and stands largely on its own.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As Melinda points out later, Flora is a pawn of Carla’s and Morgan’s in every respect.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of later
Adjective
  • Its back alleys are still pedestrian-only (although the odd motorbike roars past) and maintain their charm.
    — Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • When you're finished, swipe down, use the back gesture or tap the X in the upper-left corner.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Adjective
  • Couples who match through the program are offered vouchers for subsequent dates, access to follow-up activities tied to festivals around Seoul, as well as an online and offline community where participants can stay connected.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In this and subsequent Narnia books, Aslan leads his young followers in combating and defeating evil.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Preposition
  • Where a chorus should hit, nearly everything drops out, leaving behind those drums to face off against the steady, impersonal rumble of a sub-bass.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Staying indoors, behind screens or in rooms with air conditioning will also lessen the chances for a bite.
    — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of behind
Adverb
  • Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.
    — COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For scientists, the harder question has been how oxygen stayed abundant for millions of years afterward — long enough, as ancient rocks suggest, to set the stage for the emergence of increasingly complex life.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of afterward
Adjective
  • Whatever the case, the spaciousness continues next to the rear lounge/office area, where the dry bathroom houses a shower with discrete tub floor and sliding door, a toilet and a vanity sink.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But historically, they’ve been stuck relying on rear-view analytics to prove it.
    — Arnab Mishra, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of rear
Preposition
  • The Valkyries built on that successful debut Friday night, rallying past the Dallas Wings in Game 3 to secure the first playoff series victory in franchise history.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • To accomplish that, Sayegh knew the years of just opening the doors of a cinema and selling drinks and popcorn as people bought tickets were long past her industry.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of past

Phrases Containing after

Browse Nearby Words

aft
after
after a fashion
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Cite this Entry

“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/after. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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