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

Examples of afterward in a Sentence

He found out about it long afterward.

Afterward, she got a promotion.

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades afterward and until the advent of internet telephony, Druze families divided by the armistice lines who wanted to communicate with one another did so via megaphone in an area that came to be known as Shouting Hill. —Uriel Heilman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025

Roach called for a rematch afterward, disgusted that he was not credited with the knockdown in the ninth round. —Brian Mahoney, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2025

He was removed from the cast shortly afterward when his past anti-Chinese and anti-gay jokes resurfaced. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025

Caro emigrated from Colombia to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1981 and shortly afterward met his wife, Amparo, a native of Medellin, Colombia. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

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-tə(r)-wərd 

variants or afterwards

-wərdz 

: at a later time