aft

¹ American  

[aft, ahft] / æft, ɑft /

adverb

1. at, close to, or toward the stern or tail.

   Stow the luggage aft.

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adjective

1. situated toward or at the stern or tail.

   The aft sail was luffing.

aft ² American  

[aft, ahft] / æft, ɑft /

adverb

Scot.

1. oft.

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aft. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. afternoon.

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A.F.T. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. American Federation of Teachers.

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aft British  

/ ɑːft /

adverb

1. nautical towards or at the stern or rear

   the aft deck

   aft of the engines

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Etymology

Origin of aft

before 950; Middle English afte, Old English æftan from behind, equivalent to æf- opposite + -t- suffix of uncertain value + -an suffix marking motion from; cognate with Old Frisian efta, Old Saxon, Old High German aftan, Gothic aftana, Old Norse aptan, Greek opís ( s ) ō behind; not akin to Greek apó off

Example Sentences

Two tunnels ran from fore to aft, right beneath the deck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

“Let’s get everyone off the ship and onto the dock,” Willcox said, and padded aft in his bare feet.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

In September, misdrilled holes were discovered in the 737 MAX aft pressure bulkhead, the domed fuselage cap that seals the rear of the passenger cabin and is installed at Spirit.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2024

Standing on the aft deck of a modified 13-meter fishing boat in Halifax Harbour, Dariia Atamanchuk gazes at both a cause of the climate crisis and, she hopes, part of the solution.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 30, 2023

A pair of half-men waited at the gangway, keeping guard and another pair were on the ship fore and aft.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi