afterward

American  

[af-ter-werd, ahf-] / ˈæf tər wərd, ˈɑf- /

Or afterwards

adverb

1. at a later or subsequent time; subsequently.

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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

The U.A.E. said it would also exit OPEC+, a group of major oil producers that includes Russia, and gradually increase production afterward.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

The difference appeared in how the cells responded afterward.

From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026

“These are hard conversations,” she told me afterward.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

He spent two months in the hospital and several months afterward in physical therapy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Neither experience is medically dangerous, though the person in question may find themselves mulling things over for a good while afterward.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• afterwards
• eventually
• late
• later
• next
• soon
• then
• thereafter