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after

prep. · conj. · adv. · adj.
US //ˈæftɝ// UK //ˈɑːftɐ// af·ter
  1. 1 later in time (prep.)
    A1 Beginner

    later than a specific time or event.

    subsequent to a specific point in time or a particular event.

    Example

    We went for a long walk in the park after lunch.

    Example

    The company's stock price stabilized significantly after the quarterly earnings report was released to the public.
    Pitfall
    I will see you after two hours.
    I will see you in two hours.

    Use 'in' to say how much time will pass from now. Use 'after' to say something happens later than a specific event.

  2. 2 following in order (prep.)
    A2 Elementary

    behind someone or something in a line or list.

    following behind in a spatial sequence or lower in a hierarchy of importance.

    Example

    Your name comes after mine on the list of students.

    Example

    In terms of global influence, the small nation is often ranked immediately after its much larger neighbors.
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  1. 3 chasing or seeking (prep.)
    B1 Intermediate

    trying to find, catch, or get something.

    in pursuit of or seeking to obtain a person or object.

    Example

    The police ran down the street after the thief.

    Example

    He spent most of his twenties chasing after fame, only to realize that he preferred a quiet life.
  2. 4 named for someone (prep.)
    B1 Intermediate

    giving someone the same name as another person.

    in imitation of or as a tribute to a specific person or entity; used with the verb 'name'.

    Example

    I was named after my grandfather, who was a famous doctor.

    Example

    The new research wing was named after the university's most generous benefactor.

    Usage

    Usually follows the verb 'name' or 'call'.

  3. 5 joining two events (conj.)
    A2 Elementary

    used to say that one thing happened and then another thing happened.

    introduces a subordinate clause representing an event that precedes the main clause action.

    Example

    After we finished the project, we went out to celebrate.

    Example

    After the committee had reviewed all the evidence, they decided to postpone the final vote until the following month.
  4. 6 later (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    at a later time than what was just mentioned.

    subsequently; at a later time in a sequence of events.

    Example

    They had a big fight but they were friends again soon after.

    Example

    The initial results were promising, but the project was cancelled shortly after due to a lack of funding.
  5. 7 nautical/aircraft rear (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    at or near the back of a ship or an airplane.

    located at or toward the stern of a vessel or the rear of an aircraft.

    Example

    The crew gathered in the after cabin to discuss the storm.

    Example

    The engineers inspected the after section of the fuselage for signs of structural fatigue following the hard landing.

    Usage

    Commonly used in maritime and aviation contexts to describe physical sections of a craft.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros Proto-Germanic *after Old English æfter Middle English after English after From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic aftar, from Proto-Germanic after, aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”). Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German/Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Swedish/Danish efter (“after”), Norwegian Nynorsk/Norwegian Bokmål etter (“after”), Icelandic eftir (“after”), aftur (“back, again”). The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).

Word family

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