after 1 of 3

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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

after

2 of 3

adverb

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

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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

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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

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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
Officers responded to the incident after receiving multiple reports of an active shooter. Dennis Romero, NBC news, 19 May 2026 The result is not visible overspending—it is embedded inefficiency that compounds year after year.​ When Growth No Longer Covers Drift For much of the past decade, revenue growth was expected to absorb incremental cost drift. David Pennino, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Adverb
Shortly after, a police officer read Mangione his Miranda rights before he was frisked and handcuffed behind his back. Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 The last day is the championship round, with the winner expected to be announced soon after. Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Adjective
The Kansas City Current co-owner, 30, shared two Instagram Stories on Tuesday, April 28, showing before-and-after shots of her 5-year-old daughter, Sterling's most recent haircut. Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 Be cautious about relying on before-and-after photos. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for after
Recent Examples of Synonyms for after
Preposition
  • Campbell appeared emotional following Wednesday’s hearing.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
  • New York City's LaGuardia Airport reopened Monday following Sunday night's runway crash.
    Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • In the chaotic aftermath of the simultaneous strikes, body parts were sometimes loaded onto ambulances without being properly linked to specific locations, or were later misclassified at hospitals.
    Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Now, nearly two decades later, the formula still works surprisingly well here.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Adjective
  • Assaulted by the two tests, most of the home’s single-stack, gravity-supporting bricks, along with the front and back windows, caved in and blew out.
    Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
  • After that, Mars dove deep into his back catalog for what’s likely to be one of the most exhilarating stretches of any large-scale concert in town this year (or next).
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • The World Health Organization has assessed the risk to the global population as low, while noting that current evidence suggests subsequent human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
  • Following its 2025 acquisition by Fox’s Tubi Media Group and subsequent additions of Backtracks (ad tech) and Supercast (subscriptions), Red Seat offers a robust monetization stack.
    Lin Cherry, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Preposition
  • Beyond keeping bugs away from your guests and food, the zapper also cuts down on the need for bug sprays, which can leave behind strong smells or residue.
    Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
  • While in the clinic, behind the gee-wizardry of the modern diagnostics and next-generation medications, the practice of endocrinology remains rooted in one person telling their story and the other trying to interpret it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Adverb
  • The whole clan congregated in the Wild dressing room afterward to soak it in.
    Joe Smith, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • Netflix aired a brief teaser during the Super Bowl, which was not released online afterwards.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror and the playoffs beginning to enter the conversation, this Week 12 matchup against a 2025 playoff team will be an important measuring stick in front of a national television audience.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Reeves also posted a GIF of Johansson looking in a car’s rear-view mirror.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Preposition
  • Bo Bichette and Soto walked to load the bases, then Rodon bounced a pitch to Vientos off the backstop, fielded it off the bounce and threw it well past home plate.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 May 2026
  • Some players had success using their speed to blow past a defender to score around the rim.
    Jason Beede, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“After.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/after. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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