/ˈaftə(ɹ)/ Northern England, other non-rhotic without the trap–bath split
/ˈætə(ɹ)/ (archaic, dialectal)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”).
Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”).
The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).
Meanings
(dated) Later; second (of two); next, following, subsequent
I did verily believe in my own mind, that I couldn't fight in that way at all; but my after experience convinced me that this was all a notion. 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska, published 1987, page 72:
In the old days, […] he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […] and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned. But he had then none of the oddities and mannerisms which I hold to be inseparable from genius, and which struck my attention in after days when I came in contact with the Celebrity. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
The amends he had made in after life were lost sight of in the dramatic glare of the original act. 1886, Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge:
(qualifier:nautical or aeronautical; where the frame of reference is within the craft; nautical or aeronautical; where the frame of reference is within the craft) At or towards the stern of a ship or the rear of an aircraft.
Caspian led them down a ladder into the after hatch. 1952, C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:
The after gun is mounted aft.
The after gun is abaft the forward gun.
The aircraft provided an after cabin for two radar operators.
/ˈaftə(ɹ)/ Northern England, other non-rhotic without the trap–bath split
/ˈætə(ɹ)/ (archaic, dialectal)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”).
Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”).
The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).
Meanings
Subsequently to; following in time; later than.
The time is a quarter after eight.
The Cold War began shortly after WWII.
After early sparring, Spurs started to take control as the interval approached and twice came close to taking the lead. Terry blocked Rafael van der Vaart's header on the line and the same player saw his cross strike the post after Adebayor was unable to apply a touch. 2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC:
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away. 2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:
I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
After you with the salt and pepper.
We had a few beers after the game.
Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Subsequently to and as a result of.
Sucess comes after hard work.
Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Subsequently to and considering.
I’m not putting you in charge again after the last disaster.
Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Subsequently to and in spite of.
After all that has happened, he is still my friend.
I can’t believe that, after all our advice against gambling, you walked into that casino!
(often, with verbs related to cleaning or tidying) Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Subsequently to the actions of (someone), in order to remedy a situation.
I'm tired of picking up after you. Why can't you clean your own messes?
(in reduplicative expressions) Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Repeatedly, seemingly in a sequence without end.
Paper after paper spells out how vulnerable we are to internet-induced brain rot. 2024 December 9, Siân Boyle, “Is doom scrolling really rotting our brains? The evidence is getting harder to ignore”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2026:
day after day, time after time, mile after mile, beer after beer, smile after smile
(Ireland, Newfoundland, followed by an -ing form of a verb, qualifier:usually preceded by a form of be) Subsequently to; following in time; later than. ▸ Used to indicate recent completion of an activity.
Mother: Let him get away out of this now, himself and his share of songs. Look at the way he has your bib destroyed that I was after washing in the morning! 1906, Lady Gregory, “A Miracle Play”, in The Shanachie, volume 1:
He asked directions to the dairy those milk cans had shown up late at. Corrigan pointed back the way he'd come and explained, “You'd have been after riding past their loading platform because they don't have their sign overlooking where the train would be after stopping. 2004, Tabor Evans, Longarm and the Great Milk Train Robbery:
"Yes. And where were you when the flood broke loose?" / "I would be most of the way to the Old House then. O'Loughlin was after running in wild to tell me he was hearing the Banshee out at The Old House, […]." 2008, M. P. Shiel, The Black Box, page 45:
He was after walking on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before, all the way from the County Limerick, where his brother, Father John, has a parish; and you may believe, the poor man was tired 1875, Patrick Kennedy, Evenings in the Duffrey, page 283:
I was after finishing my dinner when there was a knock on the door. [= I had just finished my dinner when ...]
When I woke up it was black-dark and the music was after stopping. I could taste the bread I was after eating in the dream, as sweet and luscious as any I ever knew 2004, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, page 40:
Behind.
He will leave a trail of destruction after him.
I told her to shut the door after her.
Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,[…], and the light of the reflector fell full upon her. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
In pursuit of, seeking; denoting the aim or object.
run after him; he’s after a job; to thirst after righteousness
Concerning; in relation to.
to enquire after a friend; to ask after her health
In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.
Angel Falls is named not after some heavenly being but after Jimmy Angel, a U.S. bush pilot who came across the falls by accident in 1935 while searching for a gold-rich river he had once visited with a mining engineer. 1989 May, Uwe George, “Venezuela's Islands in Time”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 549:
This painting is after Leonardo da Vinci.
We named him after his grandfather.
In the 19th century, brothers John and Hugh Finlay pioneered the Baltimore Fancy Chair, modeling its klismos back not after firsthand encounters with the ancient Greek perches but after representations on Grecian urns. 2026 May 14, Hannah Martin, “Grab a Chair”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 24:
Work your horse in a calade, after the Italian way; ride him straight, and then you make good use of the calade. 1735, The Sportsman's Dictionary:
Below, often next below, in importance or rank.
The princess is next in line to the throne after the prince.
(obsolete) According to (an author or text).
(obsolete) According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting.
He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC:
no bak (behind) · tr ardında (in pursuit of, seeking) · nl vanwege (as a result of) · ur پھر (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pa مَگروں (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh по̏слије (subsequently; following in time; later than) · tr ardından (behind) · he לאחר (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pox pü (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es por causa de (as a result of) · sh pȍsle (next in importance or rank) · cmn ...以後 /...以后 (subsequently; following in time; later than) · nl door (as a result of) · wa mågré (in spite of) · la a (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · gd air (in pursuit of, seeking) · tr sonrasında (as a result of) · sco efter (next in importance or rank) · sco eftir (behind) · sk po (as a result of) · fy om (as a result of) · ur ... کے بعد (subsequently; following in time; later than) · la post (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pl po (next in importance or rank) · sh pȍslije (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sco efter (behind) · bg зад (in pursuit of, seeking) · ru в честь (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · ko 연유하여 (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sv efter (next in importance or rank) · ko 하지만 (in spite of) · cs po (next in importance or rank) · sh zbȍg (as a result of) · fi vuoksi (as a result of) · ckb دوایی (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fi seurauksena (as a result of) · ko 뒤에 (behind) · da efter (in pursuit of, seeking) · non at (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · wa après (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh za (in pursuit of, seeking) · da efter (behind) · hu miatt (as a result of) · ar بَعْدَ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · non at (subsequently; following in time; later than) · he אחרי (behind) · sh iza (behind) · fr derrière (next in importance or rank) · gd an dèidh (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pl po (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sk po (next in importance or rank) · sk po (in spite of) · gl tras (in pursuit of, seeking) · da efter (next in importance or rank) · da efter (in spite of) · sco eftir (as a result of) · pl za (behind) · cs po (behind) · sv efter (in pursuit of, seeking) · to hili (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es detrás de (in pursuit of, seeking) · ml പിന്നാലെ (behind) · acw ورا (behind) · mt wara (next in importance or rank) · pt segundo (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · ro peste (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es en pos de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ht apre (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fr malgré (in spite of) · ab уашҭан (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fa در پی (subsequently; following in time; later than) · rup dupu (subsequently; following in time; later than) · io pos (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sv efter (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · he למרות (in spite of) · fi jälkeen (next in importance or rank) · da bagefter (behind) · gl detrás de (in pursuit of, seeking) · ckb پاش ئەوە (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ru позади́ (behind) · nl naar (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · wa dirî (next in importance or rank) · fi takana (behind) · lou dèriyær (behind) · fi jälkeen (in pursuit of, seeking) · el μετά (subsequently; following in time; later than) · nrf oprès (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy հետո (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fy efter oan (in pursuit of, seeking) · de hinter (in pursuit of, seeking) · fi seuraava (next in importance or rank) · sk za (behind) · cmn ...後面 /...后面 (behind) · gmq-pro ᚨᚠᛏᛖᚱ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sk po (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hu nyomában (in pursuit of, seeking) · uk поза́ду (behind) · bn পরে (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sah кэлин (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fy efter (behind) · fi yli (subsequently; following in time; later than) · cs po (subsequently; following in time; later than) · vi sau (subsequently; following in time; later than) · dsb pó (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ko 따라서 (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · mn дараа (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pt atrás de (next in importance or rank) · hy ետևից (in pursuit of, seeking) · wa après (in pursuit of, seeking) · ro după (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh по̏сле (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy պատճառով (as a result of) · fr malgré le fait que (in spite of) · ru по́сле (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ro pe urmele (in pursuit of, seeking) · got 𐌰𐍆𐌰𐍂 (behind) · ary مور (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ru за (behind) · es tras (behind) · id setelah (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sq pas (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es por (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sh збо̏г (as a result of) · sco efter (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · rup dupã (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy հետո (in spite of) · nl ondanks (in spite of) · de nach (subsequently; following in time; later than) · got 𐌰𐍆𐌰𐍂 (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fa پس از (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy պատվին (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · pl po (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · nap appriesso (behind) · pt apesar de (in spite of) · hu után (behind) · sk po (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · es detrás de (behind) · ru в результа́те (as a result of) · bg според (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · gd an dèidh (as a result of) · da efter (subsequently; following in time; later than) · wa di cåze di (as a result of) · sh по̏сле (next in importance or rank) · sl po (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · la secundum (behind) · fi jäljessä (behind) · sco eftir (in spite of) · sco eftir (in pursuit of, seeking) · mk по (in pursuit of, seeking) · pt por (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sl po (subsequently; following in time; later than) · rup dipã (subsequently; following in time; later than) · he אחרי (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh иза (behind) · da som følge af (as a result of) · wa dirî (behind) · sl za (next in importance or rank) · nl achter (behind) · it dietro (behind) · it nonostante (in spite of) · ja 後に (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ro în urma (as a result of) · fr d'après (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · cs za (as a result of) · hu után (subsequently; following in time; later than) · cs na (in pursuit of, seeking) · de nach (next in importance or rank) · es en pos de (in pursuit of, seeking) · de wegen (as a result of) · hu után (next in importance or rank) · fi takia (as a result of) · hy հետևից (in pursuit of, seeking) · tr sonucunda (as a result of) · sh pȍsle (in spite of) · ar وَرَاء (behind) · gd an dèidh (in spite of) · ru в по́исках (in pursuit of, seeking) · be по́сле (subsequently; following in time; later than) · or ପରେ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ur بعد از (subsequently; following in time; later than) · gd an dèidh (behind) · pl za (as a result of) · fi mukaan (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · grc μετά (subsequently; following in time; later than) · de trotz (in spite of) · fi huolimatta (in spite of) · bg подир (subsequently; following in time; later than) · wa padrî (behind) · am በኋላ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sco efter (in spite of) · yi נאָך (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hu -ről (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · pt por causa de (as a result of) · vi sau (behind) · wa après (next in importance or rank) · no etter at (as a result of) · or ପଛରେ (behind) · sk po (in pursuit of, seeking) · ru сза́ди (behind) · ofs ni (next in importance or rank) · he מאחור (behind) · tpi bihain (subsequently; following in time; later than) · bg след (subsequently; following in time; later than) · gl a persar de (in spite of) · pl za (in pursuit of, seeking) · ar خَلْفَ (behind) · gl despois de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · bg след (next in importance or rank) · es debido a (as a result of) · sv bakom (behind) · se geažil (as a result of) · pt depois de (next in importance or rank) · ml കഴിഞ്ഞ് (next in importance or rank) · ml ശേഷം (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ko 다음에 (subsequently; following in time; later than) · arz ورا (behind) · fi jälkeen (behind) · ms selepas (subsequently; following in time; later than) · prg pa (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · pl po (in spite of) · gl detrás de (behind) · sh за (behind) · sk za (in pursuit of, seeking) · ca després de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sk podľa (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · ja ...の後ろに (behind) · fy nei (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fi mukaillen (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · rup dipu (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pl w stylu (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · nap aroppo (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sv efter (subsequently; following in time; later than) · izh perrää (subsequently; following in time; later than) · prg pas (behind) · tr yerine (in spite of) · sv efter (behind) · ro după (behind) · tr peşinde (in pursuit of, seeking) · fur daspò (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ca acabat de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · la secundum (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fi taakse (behind) · be пасля́ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · se maŋŋá (subsequently; following in time; later than) · bal بعد چہ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · wa a cåze di (as a result of) · hi ... के बाद (subsequently; following in time; later than) · no etter (in pursuit of, seeking) · fa بعد از (subsequently; following in time; later than) · kn ಬಳಿಕ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · gd seach (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ia depois (subsequently; following in time; later than) · mk после (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hi की खोज में (in pursuit of, seeking) · ml കഴിഞ്ഞ് (subsequently; following in time; later than) · tr arkasında (in pursuit of, seeking) · lou apré (subsequently; following in time; later than) · mk по (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sl za (behind) · fr à cause de (as a result of) · it da (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · gd an dèidh (next in importance or rank) · fy ek al (in spite of) · mt wara (behind) · ru по образцу́ (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · es después de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fr derrière (behind) · prg pa (subsequently; following in time; later than) · non aptan (behind) · es tras (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy հետո (behind) · arz بعد (subsequently; following in time; later than) · eo post (subsequently; following in time; later than) · dsb pó (in pursuit of, seeking) · sh по̏сле (as a result of) · bg зад (behind) · th หลัง (subsequently; following in time; later than) · no etter (in spite of) · ru по́сле (next in importance or rank) · fi jälkeen (subsequently; following in time; later than) · dsb pó (behind) · hi के पीछे (behind) · mr नंतर (subsequently; following in time; later than) · gl despois de (next in importance or rank) · la post (behind) · sl za (in pursuit of, seeking) · no etter (next in importance or rank) · sco eftir (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · hu mögött (behind) · la ab (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sco eftir (next in importance or rank) · sh за (in pursuit of, seeking) · ro ca urmare a (as a result of) · hu -ról (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · wa d'après (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sv efter (in spite of) · no etter (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ko 추구하여 (in pursuit of, seeking) · ca després de (next in importance or rank) · yai бад (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pt depois de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ru по моти́вам (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · ga i ndiaidh (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sco eftir (subsequently; following in time; later than) · bg по (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · fi perään (in pursuit of, seeking) · sco efter (in pursuit of, seeking) · fy nei (next in importance or rank) · mt wara (subsequently; following in time; later than) · nl na (next in importance or rank) · ru по́сле (in spite of) · ia post (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es tras (in pursuit of, seeking) · kw wosa (subsequently; following in time; later than) · it dopo (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ta பிறகு (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh pȍ (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · sco efter (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ro în urmă (behind) · ckb دوای ئەوە (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sh pȍsle (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sk na (in pursuit of, seeking) · es a pesar de (in spite of) · sh по̏ (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · is eftir (subsequently; following in time; later than) · no etter (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · mzs cavâ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · nl over (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sv efter (as a result of) · wa sorlon (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · mhn no (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pt atrás de (behind) · sh pȍsle (as a result of) · ca en acabat de (subsequently; following in time; later than) · ga tar éis (subsequently; following in time; later than) · nl achter aan (in pursuit of, seeking) · et pärast (subsequently; following in time; later than) · cs po (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · de nach (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · ru и́з-за (as a result of) · ru за (in pursuit of, seeking) · fr après (next in importance or rank) · nl na (subsequently; following in time; later than) · cs po (in spite of) · lou dèriyè (behind) · wa padrî (next in importance or rank) · ofs ni (subsequently; following in time; later than) · de hinter (behind) · gd an dèidh (in pursuit of, seeking) · sh уна́точ (in spite of) · sh по̏сле (in spite of) · sh za (behind) · af na (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hu ellenére (in spite of) · pt atrás de (in pursuit of, seeking) · it in seguito (in pursuit of, seeking) · it per causa di (as a result of) · cs podle (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · dsb pó (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · gl por (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · fa بعد (subsequently; following in time; later than) · es después de (next in importance or rank) · fr après (subsequently; following in time; later than) · se oavnnjil (in pursuit of, seeking) · sh unátoč (in spite of) · hu után (in pursuit of, seeking) · izh peräst (subsequently; following in time; later than) · sco efter (as a result of) · fy troch (as a result of) · fy neffens (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · acw بعد (subsequently; following in time; later than) · hy հետո (next in importance or rank) · it seguente (subsequently; following in time; later than) · pt devido a (as a result of) · ro în căutarea (in pursuit of, seeking) · no etter (behind) · hu dacára (in spite of) · tr arkasında (behind) · lo ຫລັງຈາກ (subsequently; following in time; later than) · da efter (in allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing) · cy ar ôl (subsequently; following in time; later than) · da på trods af (in spite of) · fi perässä (in pursuit of, seeking) · cs za (in pursuit of, seeking) · uk пі́сля (subsequently; following in time; later than) · da efter (as a result of) · tr sonra (subsequently; following in time; later than) · fi jäljessä (in pursuit of, seeking) · gl tras (behind)
/ˈaftə(ɹ)/ Northern England, other non-rhotic without the trap–bath split
/ˈætə(ɹ)/ (archaic, dialectal)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”).
Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”).
The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Behind; later in time; following.
They lived happily ever after.
I left the room, and the dog bounded after.
I might come next month, or the month after.
Deriveds
henceafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · ever after (terms derived from after (adverb)) · hereafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · after-action (terms derived from after (adverb)) · morning-after pill (terms derived from after (adverb)) · hereinafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · after-acquired (terms derived from after (adverb)) · forever after (terms derived from after (adverb)) · after-effect (terms derived from after (adverb)) · whenceafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · day after (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterloading (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterbath (terms derived from after (adverb)) · aftermath (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterward (terms derived from after (adverb)) · thereafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterwards (terms derived from after (adverb)) · after-sail (terms derived from after (adverb)) · aftermarket (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterling (terms derived from after (adverb)) · aftertaste (terms derived from after (adverb)) · before-and-after (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterworld (terms derived from after (adverb)) · thenceafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterwhile (terms derived from after (adverb)) · day-after recall test (terms derived from after (adverb)) · aftertime (terms derived from after (adverb)) · after-world (terms derived from after (adverb)) · whereafter (terms derived from after (adverb)) · afterhand (terms derived from after (adverb))
Translations (112)
ccc yajtikini (behind; later in time; following) · es después (behind; later in time; following) · scn doppu (behind; later in time; following) · nds-de achterher (behind; later in time; following) · nb etterpå (behind; later in time; following) · sv efter (behind; later in time; following) · ka შემდგომ (behind; later in time; following) · gd an dèidh sin (behind; later in time; following) · el κατόπιν (behind; later in time; following) · sco efter (behind; later in time; following) · el ύστερα (behind; later in time; following) · es luego (behind; later in time; following) · da efter (behind; later in time; following) · it dopo (behind; later in time; following) · vec dapò (behind; later in time; following) · ru пото́м (behind; later in time; following) · ko 앞으로 (behind; later in time; following) · sw baada (behind; later in time; following) · ja 後で (behind; later in time; following) · cmn 以后 (behind; later in time; following) · fi myöhemmin (behind; later in time; following) · nb etter (behind; later in time; following) · io pose (behind; later in time; following) · it poi (behind; later in time; following) · sk potom (behind; later in time; following) · az sonra (behind; later in time; following) · nap appriesso (behind; later in time; following) · lv pēc (behind; later in time; following) · lou apré (behind; later in time; following) · sa पश्चात् (behind; later in time; following) · nb seinere (behind; later in time; following) · fy nei (behind; later in time; following) · sco eftir (behind; later in time; following) · acw بَعَد (behind; later in time; following) · da senere (behind; later in time; following) · pl potem (behind; later in time; following) · sq mbas (behind; later in time; following) · ml ശേഷം (behind; later in time; following) · ar بعد (behind; later in time; following) · ist duopo (behind; later in time; following) · rue пак (behind; later in time; following) · nn etter (behind; later in time; following) · hy հետո (behind; later in time; following) · lo ຊ້າບໍ່ນານ (behind; later in time; following) · el έπειτα (behind; later in time; following) · ga tar éis (behind; later in time; following) · ro după (behind; later in time; following) · tr sonra (behind; later in time; following) · oj ishkwaa- (behind; later in time; following) · ja のちに (behind; later in time; following) · sc posca (behind; later in time; following) · wa padrî (behind; later in time; following) · nl achter (behind; later in time; following) · ru по́сле (behind; later in time; following) · lb nodeem (behind; later in time; following) · nb senere (behind; later in time; following) · oc après (behind; later in time; following) · hu utána (behind; later in time; following) · ast después (behind; later in time; following) · shn ဝၢႆး (behind; later in time; following) · bg зад (behind; later in time; following) · ko 다음에 (behind; later in time; following) · fur daspò (behind; later in time; following) · oc aprèp (behind; later in time; following) · ast en (behind; later in time; following) · ca després (behind; later in time; following) · sq pas (behind; later in time; following) · ady иужым (behind; later in time; following) · de darauf (behind; later in time; following) · th หลัง (behind; later in time; following) · scn dopu (behind; later in time; following) · ca en acabat (behind; later in time; following) · nl na (behind; later in time; following) · sq pasi (behind; later in time; following) · ast depués (behind; later in time; following) · sc postis (behind; later in time; following) · cs potom (behind; later in time; following) · bn বাদে (behind; later in time; following) · is eftir (behind; later in time; following) · yue 之後 /之后 (behind; later in time; following) · nn etterpå (behind; later in time; following) · la post (behind; later in time; following) · vi sau (behind; later in time; following) · pt depois (behind; later in time; following) · ka შემდეგ (behind; later in time; following) · fr après (behind; later in time; following) · sh по̏сле (behind; later in time; following) · gd an dèidh làimhe (behind; later in time; following) · pa مَگروں (behind; later in time; following) · so kaddib (behind; later in time; following) · stq ätter (behind; later in time; following) · gl despois (behind; later in time; following) · css itsa (behind; later in time; following) · de hinterher (behind; later in time; following) · sv senare (behind; later in time; following) · wa après (with "çoula" or "ça") (behind; later in time; following) · chn kĭm'-tah (behind; later in time; following) · se maŋŋá (behind; later in time; following) · hi उपरांत (behind; later in time; following) · hi पश्चात (behind; later in time; following) · nn seinare (behind; later in time; following) · sh pȍsle (behind; later in time; following) · sc dabosca (behind; later in time; following) · ca acabat (behind; later in time; following) · fa پس از (behind; later in time; following) · ady иуж (behind; later in time; following) · dlm dapú (behind; later in time; following) · ast dempués (behind; later in time; following) · ca més tard (behind; later in time; following) · kgp kar kỹ (behind; later in time; following) · tpi bihain (behind; later in time; following) · wbk potom (behind; later in time; following)
/ˈaftə(ɹ)/ Northern England, other non-rhotic without the trap–bath split
/ˈætə(ɹ)/ (archaic, dialectal)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”).
Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”).
The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).
Meanings
Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause.
After we had decided to call it a day, I went home.
It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
1991, Donald "Shadow" Rimgale (character), Robert DeNiro (actor), Backdraft
So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline?
Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe. 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
The show ends after the fat lady sings.
Translations (32)
es después (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · fr après que (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · uk пі́сля то́го, як (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · el αφού (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · el αφότου (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · nb etter (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · sk potom čo (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · no etter (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ml ശേഷം (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ru по́сле того́, как (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · lo ຫລັງຈາກ (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · la postquam (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · de nachdem (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · hu miután (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · gd an dèidh do (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · sco eftir (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · nb etter at (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · fi kun (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · it dopo (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · zdj ɓaȃɗa (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · sco efter (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · no etter at (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ang æfter þām þe (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · yi נאָך דעם וואָס (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · pt depois de (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ca acabat que (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ar بَعْدَمَا (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · nl nadat (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · fi sen jälkeen, kun (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · bg след като (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ca després que (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause) · ca en acabat que (signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of the other clause)
/ˈaftə(ɹ)/ Northern England, other non-rhotic without the trap–bath split
/ˈætə(ɹ)/ (archaic, dialectal)
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”).
Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”).
The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”).
Meanings
Of before-and-after images: the one that shows the difference after a specified treatment.
Did any of the before pictures remind you of yourself, and did any of the afters show what you hoped your results might be? 1998, Alan Gaynor, “How to Choose a Doctor”, in Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cosmetic Surgery But Couldn’t Afford to Ask: A Complete Look at the Latest Techniques and Why They Are Safer and Less Expensive, by One of Today’s Most Prominent Cosmetic Surgeons, New York, N.Y.: Broadway Books, →ISBN, part I (The New Aesthetic Surgery), page 66:
In the ‘before’ shots, she’ll look like an ordinary suburban housewife; but we know she acts in community theater musicals sometimes, so the ‘afters’ will give her a glamorous starlet image, starting with a very revealing bathing suit shot. 1987, Joanna Z. Adams, Makeovers, London: Headline Book Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 61:
So with that in mind, we thought it might be helpful to put some pictures where our mouths are, and include some less-than-flattering photos of our first house after we’d lived there eight whole months. Spoiler alert: We were miiiles away from the “afters” that we shared on pages 6 and 7. 2012, Sherry Petersik, John Petersik, Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love, New York, N.Y.: Artisan, →ISBN, page 16, column 2: