afterward
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of afterward
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English æfterweard, alteration (with -r- of æfter after ) of æfteweard, equivalent to æfte-, æftan aft 1 + -weard -ward
Explanation
If something happens afterward, it occurs after some original event or time. When kids get out of school at 2:00 p.m., teachers generally go home some time afterward. You might attend a reading by an author and then go to the reception afterward, or eat dinner with your family and then go out for ice cream afterward. You can also use the word afterwards — although afterward came first, from the Old English æftanweard, combining æftan, "after," and the direction suffix -weard. The original English form, aftward, was a nautical term.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Divers could briefly examine the sharks, but the animals typically died soon afterward.
From Science Daily • Jul. 8, 2026
“Overturn that,” the Belgian national team wrote on social media afterward.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
"He said he's gonna strongly consider the pastor," the US president said afterward.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
Video of the incident showed Smith apologizing to Jackson shortly afterward, saying he was acting in character and believed the 25-year-old was a “worker,” meaning he was involved in the wrestling show.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
When they finally met up at a TB meeting in Salzburg, Austria, they went out for a pizza dinner afterward.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
