after

Plural

afters

Adverb

Adverb

×

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

1. 1.Behind; later in time; following.

   • I left the room, and the dog bounded after.
   • I might come next month, or the month after.
   • They lived happily ever after.

Prep

Preposition

×

A word placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship to another part of the sentence.

1. 1.Subsequently to; following in time; later than.

   • We had a few beers after the game.
   • The time is a quarter after eight.
   • After you with the salt and pepper.

2. 2.Behind.

   • I told her to shut the door after her.
   • He will leave a trail of destruction after him.
   • Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,[…], and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.

3. 3.In pursuit of, seeking.

   • He’s after a job; run after him; inquire after her health.

4. 4.In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.

   • We named him after his grandfather.
   • This painting is after Leonardo da Vinci.
   • Work your horse in a calade, after the Italian way; ride him straight, and then you make good use of the calade.

Conj

Conjunction

×

A word that links words, phrases, or clauses.

1. 1.Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause.

   • The show ends after the fat lady sings.
   • After we had decided to call it a day, I went home.
   • It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

1. 1.At or towards the stern of a ship or the rear of an aircraft.

   • The after gun is abaft the forward gun.
   • Caspian led them down a ladder into the after hatch.
   • The aircraft provided an after cabin for two radar operators.

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.Of before-and-after images: the one that shows the difference after a specified treatment.

   • Did any of the before pictures remind you of yourself, and did any of the afters show what you hoped your results might be?

Overall

Very common· #131

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Common

General reading & writing

Very common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Uncommon

Synonyms

• later

Word family

• afternoon
• afterward