# afterward

/ˈæftɝwɝd/ (US) · /ˈɑːftəwəd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/afterward
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

at a later time or after something else has happened. You use it to talk about what you did next.

For teachers: at a later or subsequent time. Often used to link two events in a chronological sequence.

## Examples

- We went for a walk and had dinner afterward.
- The team played a difficult match and went out for a celebratory meal afterward.
- The witness provided a brief statement immediately following the accident, but she struggled to recall specific details when questioned again shortly afterward.

## Pitfalls

- Not "afterward of the movie" but "after the movie" — Afterward is an adverb and cannot take a noun object; use the preposition 'after' instead.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed at the end of a clause or sentence to indicate a subsequent action.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.