afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
Synonyms of afterlifenext
1
: an existence after death
2
: a later period in one's life
3
: a period of continued or renewed use, existence, or popularity beyond what is normal, primary, or expected
a TV show with a long afterlife in syndication

Synonyms of afterlife

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Examples of afterlife in a Sentence

Does he believe in an afterlife? written in afterlife, his memoirs reveal a kinder, more forgiving man
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Drawing on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Jackson Wiederhoeft’s fall 2023 collection imagined a subversive afterlife in which the heroine refuses to be rescued from the Underworld. — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026 The steady trickle of those recordings into the groundwater of influence has guaranteed the album its afterlife, both as a great lost future of American music and as a central pillar in the group’s legacy. — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026 Despite the efforts of Overlook Press, Ardis lives on less through its corporate afterlife and more through the people still hunting it down. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 There are additional fees for Buddhist rituals to be performed at the grave, which are believed to benefit the deceased in the afterlife. — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterlife

Word History

Etymology

after- + life entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterlife was in 1589

Rhymes for afterlife

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Browse Nearby Words

afterings
afterlife
afterlifetime
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Cite this Entry

“Afterlife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterlife. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

afterlife

noun
af·​ter·​life -ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
1
: an existence after death
2
: a later period in one's life

More from Merriam-Webster on afterlife

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about afterlife

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