English Reference
Noun

hereafter

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US /hɪˈɹæftɝ/ UK /hiəɹˈɑːftɐ/ here·after UK spelling hereafters

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.


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'.

This is particularly true for forests dominated by Sequoia sempervirens (hereafter redwood), the world's tallest tree species.

Phys.org· 25 Aug 2026

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.

This entry
Origin Old English hēræfter
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated