Word
afterthought
Phoneticsaf·ter·thought, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæftɝˌθɑt/
UK/ˈɑːftəθˌɔːt/
Definitions
01a later addition
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something added to a plan or a conversation later because it was forgotten at the start.
n. an item, idea, or detail added to a plan or statement subsequently, often implying it was not part of the original design.
“The small balcony felt like an afterthought because it was too tiny to use.”
“The final chapter of the report seemed like a mere afterthought, lacking the rigorous analysis present in the earlier sections.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'as' or 'an', as in 'added as an afterthought'.
Teaching tip
This word often carries a slightly negative nuance, suggesting that the thing was not important enough to be planned properly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a later reflection
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a thought that comes to you after you have already done or said something.
n. a reflection or secondary thought occurring after an action has been completed.
“It was only as an afterthought that I realized I had forgotten my keys.”
“Upon further reflection and as a quiet afterthought, he admitted that his initial reaction had been somewhat hasty.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Children, he insisted, must be treated as full rights-holders in how AI is built and used – not an afterthought once the technology has already shaped their lives .” “You don’t get a telephoto camera with Samsung’s wider foldable, but this sensor increasingly feels like an afterthought for the Ultra.” Etymology
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 ▲ Old English æfter Old English æfter- Middle English after- English after- Proto-Indo-European *teng-der. Proto-Germanic *þankijaną Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht Old English þōht Middle English thought English thought English afterthought From after- + thought, probably modelled on forethought. Compare also the verb afterthink.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/afterthought