after 1 of 3

preposition

Definition of afternext
as in following
subsequent to in time or order the brass band came right after the mayor in the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

after

2 of 3

adverb

ˈaf-tər How to pronounce after (audio)
as in later
following in time or place upon seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, and for a long time after, Irma wanted to play the part of the Mouse King

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

after

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in back
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part had heard that the after section of the cruise ship had more spacious cabins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of after
Preposition
Avatar star Stephen Lang is reuniting with director Uli Edel 37 years after Lang’s breakthrough performance in Edel’s Last Exit to Brooklyn. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Three years after that, her friend, Jen, died at age 54 after a very brief battle with cancer. — Naomi Barr, Flow Space, 22 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Soon after, the Yankees announced their own partnership with Polymarket. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 Then mines started to close and unemployment rose, and its owner, an elderly Italian named Netta Cavalli, was beaten in her shop and died soon after. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The space agency released before-and-after photos of the impact area on Tuesday. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The Danuri captured before-and-after photos of the crash site. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for after
Recent Examples of Synonyms for after
  1. following
  2. later
  3. back
  4. subsequent
  5. behind
  6. afterward
  7. rear
  8. past
Preposition
  • Trump’s request will likely now no longer be considered relevant following Monday’s order.
    — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Definition of following
Adverb
  • Six days later, Israel held Gaza, the West Bank, Sinai, and the Golan.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The series opens from the police perspective, but later the story rewinds and is told through the eyes of the robbers and and their hostages inside the bank.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of later
Adjective
  • Some moderate flooding is possible in vulnerable back-bay communities before conditions gradually improve Thursday.
    — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Living with neck and back pain from stress, tension, poor posture and other causes can seriously degrade your quality of life, but Therabody's latest innovation can help.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Adjective
  • The Hader trade brought Game 3 starter Robert Gasser and journeyman outfielder Estuery Ruiz, and within a subsequent three-team trade, the Brewers swiped All-Star catcher William Contreras for Ruiz.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Chronic vocal cord issues, and a subsequent surgery, forced him to cancel a long stretch of shows, including a European tour.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Preposition
  • And after a few key results on Saturday, there’s some clarity behind Miami in the conference standings with five weeks left in the regular season.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike other modern culinary festivals, there was no peeking behind the curtain, because, in fact, there is no curtain.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of behind
Adverb
  • OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • What is to come afterwards is when their world is on fire as the fierce Battle Of Okinawa Island takes them , and us, back to sad reality.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of afterward
Adjective
  • The new version features a single, improved fairing, rather than a separate center and rear fairings.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Police noted in court documents that the Honda had significant rear damage and did not appear to be drivable.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rear
Preposition
  • Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler lead Lakers past the Clippers in an error-prone game.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • CoreWeave, the biggest of the group, has seen the spread on its credit default swaps soar past 11%, as investors are forced to pay up for insurance against default.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of past

Phrases Containing after

Browse Nearby Words

aft
after
after a fashion
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Cite this Entry

“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/after. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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