afterward
adverb
af·ter·ward ˈaf-tər-wərd 
ˈaf-tə-
variants or afterwards
ˈaf-tər-wərdz
ˈaf-tə-
: at a later or succeeding time : subsequently, thereafter
found out about it long afterward
Synonyms
- after
- later
- latterly
- subsequently
- thereafter
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He found out about it long afterward. Afterward, she got a promotion.
Recent Examples on the Web When the children were given reading-comprehension tests afterward, average readers had made 8.5 months of progress while poorer students had made 16 months of progress. 
Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Shortly afterward, the man checked his bank account and found that someone had made 10 withdrawals totaling about $3,700. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 Still, just because the show has this stipulation doesn't mean winners don't have other forms of success afterward. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 15 Sep. 2022 Why not just hold the vote before the election, and then bring it up for a second vote afterward? Grace Segers, The New Republic, 15 Sep. 2022 Last season, all the duos split either on the wedding day or afterward. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 In seven of the nine cases, NBC News talked to witnesses, partners or friends who said the men had told them of the encounters afterward. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2022 Hoke reportedly shouted at White to leave the field afterward. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Martin and acting managing director Roxanna Conner told the board of their objections to the real estate purchase in June; the board then placed Martin on leave shortly afterward. Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Shortly afterward, the man checked his bank account and found that someone had made 10 withdrawals totaling about $3,700. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 Still, just because the show has this stipulation doesn't mean winners don't have other forms of success afterward. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 15 Sep. 2022 Why not just hold the vote before the election, and then bring it up for a second vote afterward? Grace Segers, The New Republic, 15 Sep. 2022 Last season, all the duos split either on the wedding day or afterward. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 In seven of the nine cases, NBC News talked to witnesses, partners or friends who said the men had told them of the encounters afterward. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2022 Hoke reportedly shouted at White to leave the field afterward. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Martin and acting managing director Roxanna Conner told the board of their objections to the real estate purchase in June; the board then placed Martin on leave shortly afterward. Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English afterward "behind, in the rear, at a later time," going back to Old English æfterweard "behind, following," from æfter after entry 1 + -weard -ward entry 2; Middle English afterwardes, efterwardes "at a later time," from afterward + -es -s entry 1
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
afterward
adverb
af·ter·ward ˈaf-tər-wərd
variants or afterwards
-wərdz
: at a later time
He found out the truth long afterward.
afterward
adverb
variants or afterwards
as in after
following in time or place we'll go to the play, then have supper afterward Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- after
- later
- thereafter
- then
- next
- subsequently
- since
- latterly
- soon
- thereupon
- hereafter
- infra
- hereinbelow
- by and by
- presently
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- before
- earlier
- previously
- beforehand
- ahead
- anteriorly
- afore
- formerly
- antecedently
- heretofore
- theretofore
