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

In April 2025, she formed a lobbying firm called Varidon Strategies and began registering in states almost immediately afterward, according to records.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Redick ultimately responded by benching Vanderbilt the rest of the game and then not-so-subtly ripping him afterward.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

In 1964 Mr. McCartney played Mr. Dylan’s first two albums for his fellow Beatles; they fell for them on the spot and afterward listened to them repeatedly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Scores increased from an average of 2.37 before the retreat to 3.02 afterward.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

What was the most important thing to buy afterward?

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Related Words

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