Word
hereafter
Phoneticshere·after
US/hɪˈɹæftɝ/
UK/hiəɹˈɑːftɐ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. life after death. People use this word when talking about what happens to the soul when the body dies.
n. existence or life after death, often within a religious or spiritual context.
Examples
“Many religions teach that there is a peaceful hereafter.”
“The poet spent his final years writing about the mystery of the hereafter and the journey of the soul.”
“While some focus entirely on their present circumstances, others live according to strict moral codes in the hope of securing a favorable place in the hereafter.”
Examples
simple
“Many religions teach that there is a peaceful hereafter.”
contextual
“The poet spent his final years writing about the mystery of the hereafter and the journey of the soul.”
complex
“While some focus entirely on their present circumstances, others live according to strict moral codes in the hope of securing a favorable place in the hereafter.”
Usage
Typically preceded by the definite article 'the'.
Real-World Examples
“This is particularly true for forests dominated by Sequoia sempervirens (hereafter redwood), the world's tallest tree species.” “Research in cognitive social neuroscience suggests that there may be a potential, and easy to implement in everyday life, solution to touch deprivation: vicarious touch via observation (hereafter called ‘vicarious touch’).” Etymology
From Old English hēræfter (“in the aftertime; later on”). By surface analysis, here + after.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. sweet hereafter
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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