after
behind in place or position; following behind: men lining up one after the other.
later in time than; in succession to; at the close of: Tell me after supper. Day after day he came to work late.
subsequent to and in consequence of: After what has happened, I can never return.
below in rank or excellence; nearest to: Milton is usually placed after Shakespeare among English poets.
in imitation of or in imitation of the style of: to make something after a model; fashioned after Raphael.
in pursuit or search of; with or in desire for: I'm after a better job. Run after him!
concerning; about: to inquire after a person.
with the name of; for: He was named after his uncle.
in proportion to; in accordance with: He was a man after the hopes and expectations of his father.
according to the nature of; in conformity with; in agreement or unison with: He was a man after my own heart. He swore after the manner of his faith.
subsequent to and notwithstanding; in spite of: After all their troubles, they still manage to be optimistic.
behind; in the rear: Jill came tumbling after.
later in time; afterward: three hours after; happily ever after.
later in time; next; subsequent; succeeding: In after years we never heard from him.
Nautical, Aeronautics.
farther aft.
located closest to the stern or tail; aftermost: after hold; after mast.
including the stern or tail: the after part of a hull.
subsequent to the time that: after the boys left.
afters, British Informal. the final course of a meal, as pudding, ice cream, or the like; dessert.
Idioms about after
after all, despite what has occurred or been assumed previously; nevertheless: I've discovered I can attend the meeting after all.
Origin of after
1synonym study For after
Words Nearby after
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use after in a sentence
Chefs have been on the trend for years, hosting underground dinner parties and after-hour meals for staff.
Imagine the rightful morning-after furor if a racial slight had been broadcast in primetime.
And the Pentagon tweeted alleged before-and-after photos of a building attacked by the advanced fighter.
$70 Billion Stealth Jet Finally Flies in Its First War | Dave Majumdar | September 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNigeria, once synonymous with corruption and waste, is now one of the most sought-after destinations for investors.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It) | Todd Moss | September 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis means closely examining photos for sought-after traits like height and a symmetrical face.
But I don't see that that sort of thing helps him to decide upon the most suitable career for a young man in after-war conditions.
First Plays | A. A. MilneHe wanted besides to stay for the after-service, which he had not done since he was a young man—never since his marriage.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry WoodI beg you not to quarrel with me for the word; some of the partakers in that after-service remain from no higher motive.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry WoodBut the after-piece excited much emotion: it was called "The Discovery of Brazil."
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamHe had dashed for an after-compartment to their storage place of tools, and returned with a blow-torch in his hand.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931 | Various
British Dictionary definitions for after
/ (ˈɑːftə) /
following in time; in succession to: after dinner; time after time
following; behind: they entered one after another
in pursuit or search of: chasing after a thief; he's only after money
concerning: to inquire after his health
considering: after what you have done, you shouldn't complain
next in excellence or importance to: he ranked Jonson after Shakespeare
in imitation of; in the manner of: a statue after classical models
in accordance with or in conformity to: a man after her own heart
with a name derived from: Mary was named after her grandmother
US past (the hour of): twenty after three
after all
in spite of everything: it's only a game, after all
in spite of expectations, efforts, etc: he won the race after all!
after you please go, enter, etc, before me
at a later time; afterwards
coming afterwards; in pursuit
nautical further aft; sternwards
(subordinating) at a time later than that at which: he came after I had left
nautical further aft: the after cabin
Origin of after
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with after
In addition to the idioms beginning with after
- after a fashion
- after all
- after all's said and done
- after a sort
- after a while
- after hours
- after one's own heart
- after the fact
also see:
- day after day
- get after
- go after
- inquire after
- keep after
- live happily ever after
- look after
- morning after
- name after
- run after
- see after
- sought after
- take after
- throw good money after bad
- time after time
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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