Word
afterwards
Phoneticsaf·ter·wards, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæftɝwɝdz/
UK/ˈɑːftəwədz/
日本語のち※
Adverb of time
Definition
adv. at a later time or after something else has happened. You use this to describe what you did next in a sequence of events.
adv. at a later or subsequent time. Functions as a temporal adjunct, typically referring back to a previously mentioned event or action.
Examples
“We went for dinner and saw a movie afterwards.”
“The team celebrated their victory at the stadium and then went to a local restaurant for a meal afterwards.”
“While the initial presentation was met with silence, the delegates engaged in a spirited debate afterwards, dissecting every proposal in the lobby.”
Examples
simple
“We went for dinner and saw a movie afterwards.”
contextual
“The team celebrated their victory at the stadium and then went to a local restaurant for a meal afterwards.”
complex
“While the initial presentation was met with silence, the delegates engaged in a spirited debate afterwards, dissecting every proposal in the lobby.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “afterwards” in context.
Verb
01. afterwards discovered that
“The police afterwards discovered that the suspect had already left the country.”
adv + verb
02. met up afterwards
“We all went to the cinema and met up afterwards for a quick coffee.”
verb + adv
03. realized afterwards that
“I realized afterwards that I had left my keys inside the locked office.”
verb + adv + that-clause
04. regret it afterwards
“If you don't take this opportunity now, you will definitely regret it afterwards.”
verb + adv
Adverb
05. shortly afterwards
“The ambulance arrived at the scene, and the police followed shortly afterwards.”
adv + adj
06. immediately afterwards
“He finished his speech and immediately afterwards he was surrounded by reporters.”
adv + adj
07. soon afterwards
“They got married in June and moved to Canada soon afterwards.”
adv + adj
Usage
Typically placed at the end of a clause or sentence; can also appear at the beginning for emphasis, followed by a comma.
Pitfall
afterwards the lunch
after lunch / afterwards
'Afterwards' is an adverb and cannot be followed by a noun; use the preposition 'after' if you want to name the specific event.
Real-World Examples
“Guardiola, whose decision to make 10 changes had backfired, threatened to quit in the dressing room afterwards.” “Rachel travelled to northern Cyprus for the fertility treatment - and became pregnant shortly afterwards.” “Afterwards, the owners fled and settlers took over the property where they remain until now.” Etymology
From Middle English afterwardes, from Old English æfteweard (“behind”) + -s (“(adverbial genitive)”). By surface analysis, after + -wards.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/afterwards
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0