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Definition of 'after'

Word Frequency

after

(ɑːftəʳ , æftəʳ)
In addition to the uses shown below, after is used in phrasal verbs such as 'ask after', 'look after', and 'take after'.
1. preposition
If something happens after a particular date or event, it happens during the period of time that follows that date or event.
After 19 May, strikes were occurring on a daily basis.
After breakfast Amy ordered a taxi.
It wasn't until after Christmas that I met Paul.
After is also a conjunction.
After Don told me this, he spoke of his mother.
Marina cared for him after he seriously injured his eye several years ago.
2. preposition [PREP v-ing]
If you do one thing after doing another, you do it during the period of time that follows the other thing.
After completing and signing it, please return the form to us in the envelope provided.
...women who have changed their mind after deciding not to have children.
After flying from Los Angeles to London, allow four full days to adjust.
3. preposition
You use after when you are talking about time. For example, if something is going to happen during the day after or the weekend after a particular time, it is going to happen during the following day or during the following weekend.
She's leaving the day after tomorrow.
...the party's annual conference, to be held the week after next.
After is also an adverb.
Tomorrow. Or the day after.
4. preposition
If you go after someone, you follow or chase them.
He walked out, and Louise went after him.
...people who were after him for large amounts of money.
Synonyms: following, chasing, pursuing, on the hunt for   More Synonyms of after
5. preposition
If you are after something, you are trying to get it.
They were after the money.
I did eventually find what I was after.
Synonyms: looking for, searching for, in search of, trying to find   More Synonyms of after
6. preposition
If you call, shout, or stare after someone, you call, shout, or stare at them as they move away from you.
'Come back!' he called after me.
Claire stared after him until he disappeared around a corner.
7. preposition
If you do something after someone, you do it for them, because they cannot or will not do it for themselves.
She used to mess up the floor and I had to clean up after her.
Synonyms: because of, in the wake of, in the aftermath of, on account of   More Synonyms of after
8. preposition
If you tell someone that one place is a particular distance after another, you mean that it is situated beyond the other place and further away from you.
A few kilometres after the village, turn right to Montelabate.
9. preposition
If one thing is written after another thing on a page, it is written following it or underneath it.
I wrote my name after Penny's.
10. preposition
You use after in order to give the most important aspect of something when comparing it with another aspect.
After Germany, America is Britain's second-biggest customer.
Methane is often regarded as the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.
Synonyms: apart from, barring, excepting, next to   More Synonyms of after
11. preposition
To be named after someone means to be given the same name as them.
[British]
Phillimore Island is named after Sir Robert Phillimore.
He persuaded Virginia to name the baby after him.
regional note:   in AM, use for
Synonyms: with the same name as, in the name of, in honour of, the same as   More Synonyms of after
12. convention
If you say 'after you' to someone, you are being polite and allowing them to go in front of you or through a doorway before you do.
[politeness]
'After you.'—'Not at all, Mr Bird, after you.'
13. preposition
After is used when telling the time. If it is, for example, ten after six, the time is ten minutes past six.
[US]
14.  after all
15. 
one after the other
16. 
day after day/year after year
More Synonyms of after
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

after in British

(ˈɑːftə )
preposition
1. 
following in time; in succession to
after dinner
time after time
2. 
following; behind
they entered one after another
3. 
in pursuit or search of
chasing after a thief
he's only after money
4. 
concerning
to inquire after someone's health
5. 
considering
after what you have done, you shouldn't complain
6. 
next in excellence or importance to
he ranked Jonson after Shakespeare
7. 
in imitation of; in the manner of
a statue after classical models
8. 
in accordance with or in conformity to
a man after my own heart
9. 
with a name derived from
Amaya was named after her grandmother
10. US
past (the hour of)
twenty after three
11.  after all
12.  after you
adverb
13. 
at a later time; afterwards
14. 
coming afterwards; in pursuit
15. nautical
further aft; sternwards
conjunction
16. (subordinating)
at a time later than that at which
he came after I had left
adjective
17. nautical
further aft
the after cabin
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'after'
Old English æfter; related to Old Norse aptr back, eptir after, Old High German aftar
Word Frequency

after in American

(ˈæftər ; afˈtər; ˈɑftər ; äfˈtər)
adverb
1. 
behind in place
2. 
behind in time; later; next
preposition
3. 
behind in place; in back of
4. 
a. 
behind in time; later than
after lunch
b. 
following
year after year
5. 
a. 
in search of
b. 
pursuing, hounding, urging, etc.
they are after me for a donation
6. 
as a result of; on account of
after what has happened, he won't go
7. 
in spite of
after all we had done, he was still ungrateful
8. 
following next to in order, rank, or importance
9. 
in accordance with; in the manner of; patterned on the model of
a novel after Hemingway's style
10. 
for; in honor of
a child named after Lincoln
11. 
concerning; about
she asked after you
conjunction
12. 
following the time when; later than
adjective
13. 
next; later
14. 
nearer the rear (esp. of a ship or aircraft)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'after'
ME < OE æfter (akin to OHG aftar & MHG after) < of, off + -ter, old compar. suffix

Example sentences containing 'after'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Some of his compositions are named after birds and insects. Smithsonian Mag (2017)If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but will still be charged. Times, Sunday Times (2016)They married in 2012 shortly after the birth of their second son. Times, Sunday Times (2016)She beat the disease last year, months after a miscarriage. The Sun (2017)He came back incredibly fit, but he has just had one annoying injury after another. Times, Sunday Times (2016)He has weaknesses but he's very diligent in going after them. Times, Sunday Times (2017)My whole life went into meltdown for a few weeks after I netted the winning goal. The Sun (2017)I didn't look back after that. The Sun (2016)The guys are back together after their first year at college. The Sun (2009)He was given an official caution by cops after he admitted sending the snaps. The Sun (2009)He died shortly after arrival at hospital. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It had been hoped that after years of decline marriage was on the up again. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It was built around five years ago and we moved in soon after it was completed. Times, Sunday Times (2008)They inhabit such mutually exclusive worlds that seeing them one after the other is a jolt. Times, Sunday Times (2008)The polls emerged after five weeks of voting. Times, Sunday Times (2014)That was so hard to take after another amazing game. The Sun (2012)You are ready to aim high and go after the career and the home life you want. The Sun (2013)After a further few days it will all get much better. MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)May have found it hard coming back after long layoff. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Digby came racing past soon after they had stopped. Len Deighton BomberBut this season has been one calamity after another. The Sun (2016)The fund was wound down last week after months of poor performance. Times, Sunday Times (2012)If you call or text after this time you will not be entered but will still be charged. Times, Sunday Times (2015)She took up the sport two years ago after an accident that left her paralysed from the chest down. Times, Sunday Times (2012)They are named after the Kentish town rather than the eponymous snack. Times, Sunday Times (2009)It's very sobering to come home to after a day in the office. The Sun (2015)The plumber's move coincidentally comes shortly after he released a new book. Christianity Today (2000)The short stretch of coastline is made up of one special, stunning bay after another. Times, Sunday Times (2012)But after further outraged contact from the mothers, it decided to withdraw the bed from sale. Times, Sunday Times (2008)

Trends of 'after'

Extremely Common. after is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Nearby words of 'after'

  • AFSCME
  • AFSLAET
  • aft
  • after
  • after a fashion
  • after a sort
  • after all

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related Terms of 'after'

  • after-
  • after all
  • after-tax
  • after you
  • ask after

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of after from the Collins English Dictionary

Relative clauses

Relative clauses tell us more about nouns. They function rather like adjectives, and are found as postmodifiers in a noun phrase. The noun that is modified is called the antecedent. Relative clauses ...
Read more about 'Relative clauses'
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Scrabble score for 'after': 8
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