after
after
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "after" is /ˈæf.tər/.
First syllable (/æf/):
/æ/ as in "cat"
/f/ as in "fan"
Second syllable (/tər/):
/t/ as in "top"
/ər/ as in "butter" (often a schwa /ə/ followed by an 'r' sound)
Word Form Variations
"After" primarily functions as an adverb, preposition, or conjunction, and less commonly as an adjective or noun. As such, it doesn't have typical singular/plural forms like most nouns, or comparative/superlative forms like most adjectives/adverbs. Its form remains consistent.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: Subsequent in time or order; following an event or period.
Synonyms: afterward, later, subsequently, thereafter
Antonyms: before, earlier, previously, beforehand
Preposition
Definition 1: Following in time; later than.
Example: She arrived after the show started.
Synonyms: subsequent to, following
Antonyms: before, prior to
Definition 2: In pursuit or search of.
Example: The dog ran after the ball.
Synonyms: chasing, pursuing
Antonyms: fleeing from, avoiding
Definition 3: Following in order or sequence.
Example: Please line up after me.
Synonyms: behind, following
Antonyms: before, in front of
Definition 4: In imitation of; in the style of.
Example: The painting was done after Van Gogh.
Synonyms: in the manner of, in the style of
Antonyms: original, unique
Conjunction
Definition 1: At a time subsequent to the time when.
Example: After she finished her work, she went home.
Synonyms: once, when (in the sense of "after")
Antonyms: before, until
Adjective
Definition 1: Later or subsequent. (Often used in fixed phrases or with a noun that implies time or sequence.)
Example: The after-effects of the medicine were unpleasant.
Synonyms: subsequent, later, ensuing
Antonyms: preceding, prior, former
Noun
Definition 1: A later time; the period following an event. (Primarily used in the phrase "the after" or "the afters" in British English, often referring to dessert.)
Example: We'll discuss it in the after. (less common usage) / What's for the afters? (British English)
Synonyms: aftermath, consequence, postscript
Antonyms: prelude, beginning, start
Examples of Use
Books:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This iconic line, which doesn't directly use "after" but sets up a context for it, is followed by "The others who had afterwards read the Seven Commandments on the wall of the big barn noticed that the last two words were missing." (George Orwell, Animal Farm) - This demonstrates "afterwards" as a related adverbial form.
"He lived happily ever after." (Common fairy tale ending, e.g., in Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty) - Classic use as a preposition indicating sequence in time.
"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a spurt of gritty dust from entering along with him. He had not gone more than thirty meters when he saw a man hurrying after him." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four) - Preposition indicating pursuit.
Newspapers:
"Shares rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve signaled a potential pause in interest rate hikes." (Financial Times) - Conjunction indicating a causal temporal relationship.
"Police are searching for a suspect after a robbery at a downtown convenience store." (Local Newspaper Headline, e.g., The Charlotte Observer) - Preposition indicating the event that followed the robbery.
"The city council met late into the night, approving the new budget after extensive debate." (The New York Times) - Preposition indicating completion following a period of time/activity.
Online Publications:
"How to stay productive after a long weekend." (Lifehacker.com article title) - Preposition indicating time subsequent to an event.
"Scientists discover new species after decades of research in the Amazon." (National Geographic online) - Conjunction indicating a result following a long period.
"What to watch on Netflix this weekend after you finish your current binge." (BuzzFeed article) - Conjunction indicating a subsequent action dependent on a prior one.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "And they lived happily ever after... or did they?" (Often used as a cliffhanger in show finales, e.g., Once Upon a Time) - Preposition, playing on the fairy tale trope.
Film: "I'll be back after I get some coffee." (Common dialogue in everyday scenarios in films, e.g., The Devil Wears Prada) - Conjunction indicating a dependent action.
Song Lyrics: "And after all, you're my wonderwall." (Oasis, "Wonderwall") - Adverbial phrase, meaning "in spite of everything" or "ultimately."
Video Games: "Quest Log Updated: Speak to the Elder after you defeat the Goblin King." (On-screen text in an RPG, e.g., The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) - Conjunction setting a conditional sequence for game progression.
Podcasts: "Join us next week as we dissect the biggest news stories after the election." (Podcast host closing remarks, e.g., NPR's Up First) - Preposition indicating time subsequent to an event.
General Public Discourse:
"Let's grab dinner after the movie." (Everyday conversation) - Preposition indicating sequence in time.
"He's always running after new opportunities." (Describing someone ambitious) - Preposition indicating pursuit/ambition.
"What are you doing after work?" (Common casual question) - Preposition indicating time subsequent to an event.
"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack after the storm." (Idiomatic expression, meaning something is very difficult to find after a chaotic event) - Preposition indicating a difficult situation following an event.
"I'll clean up after myself." (Promising responsibility) - Preposition indicating following one's own actions.
10 Famous Quotes Using After
"After the storm comes the calm." — Matthew Henry
"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." — Nelson Mandela
"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury — even after he’s gone." — Marcus Aurelius
"You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future — even after a fall." — Steve Jobs (adapted from his Stanford speech)
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing." — Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun (context: after loss)
"After all, tomorrow is another day." — Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." — Aldous Huxley
"After ecstasy, the laundry." — Jack Kornfield (Zen proverb about the return to ordinary life after enlightenment)
"After all, what is a lie? ‘Tis but the truth in masquerade." — Lord Byron
"Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm — especially after public defeat." — Winston Churchill (adapted)
Etymology
The word "after" has a long history, tracing its roots all the way back to ancient languages. It's an old word that's been around in English for a very long time, even before the year 900.
Think of "after" as originally meaning "more away" or "farther off." It came from a combination of older Germanic words. One part is related to "of" or "off," which meant "away from." The other part was a suffix that made it a comparative, like adding "-er" to "far" to make "farther." So, essentially, it meant being "more away" or "further" from something.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The earliest known uses of "after" in Old English (the form of English spoken before about 1150 AD) show it being used in a few key ways:
"Behind in place": Imagine someone walking behind another person. "After" would have been used to describe that position.
"Later in time": This is very similar to how we use it today. If something happened "after" another event, it meant it happened subsequently.
"In pursuit, following with intent to overtake": This meaning still exists when we say "running after someone."
So, from its very beginning, "after" was about sequence – either in space (behind) or in time (later).
Phrases + Idioms Containing After
After all: In spite of everything; despite what has been said or done.
After a fashion: To some extent, but not perfectly or very well.
After my own heart: Sharing one's own tastes, interests, or opinions.
After the fact: Something done or considered after the event has occurred.
After hours: The time after a business or establishment has closed for the day.
Look after: To take care of someone or something; to be responsible for.
Run after: To pursue someone or something, often with the intention of catching them or obtaining something.
Take after: To resemble a parent or older relative in appearance, character, or habits.
Year after year: Every year, continuously for many years.
Day after day: Every day, continuously.
One after another: In a continuous sequence, without interruption.
After you: A polite phrase used to invite someone to go first.
The day after tomorrow: Two days from now.
The morning after: The morning following an important or eventful night.
After the dust settles: After a period of chaos or excitement has ended and things are calmer.
After a while: After some time has passed.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of after from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
