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

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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

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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
A day later, the Supreme Court denied her emergency application for a stay. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 When watching the film, the festival sets captured live blend seamlessly with the shots of the crowd, which were captured both live and simulated later in Atlanta. — Miki Hellerbach, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Still, in later years, fans were more likely to see her in TV guest spots (most memorably, as Cybill Shepherd’s mom on Moonlighting and as Roz’s mom on Frasier) than on the big screen. — Gary Susman, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026 The defense also disputed whether statements made during later meetings with prosecutors were protected plea negotiations. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for later
Recent Examples of Synonyms for later
  1. afterward
  2. subsequent
  3. after
  4. thereafter
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
  • 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
Adverb
  • Those cities also saw declines in sales after, but Beverly Hills and West Hollywood saw a smaller impact than Santa Monica did, with a 10% to 15% decline compared with prepandemic levels by the end of 2025.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Ellison’s Skydance bought out Paramount for $8 billion just last year, and set its sights on Warner — an even bigger fish — very soon after.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • But the film business can be unforgiving — many companies operating when Bleecker launched, or founded shortly thereafter, such as Broad Green and Relativity, have closed shop.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But a 2012 Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) action barred the platform from serving US customers—its most important user base—and Intrade shuttered soon thereafter.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of thereafter

Phrases Containing later

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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 9 Oct. 2026.

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