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afterwards

adv. time
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈæftɝwɝdz// UK //ˈɑːftəwədz// af·ter·wards General-service

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.


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.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English afterwardes, from Old English æfteweard (“behind”) + -s (“(adverbial genitive)”). By surface analysis, after + -wards.

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 lunchafter 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.

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