after
gb/ˈæftɚ/ us/ˈæftɚ/
A1
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A1
relation
1
Later in time than
Used to show that something happens later than another thing.
Usage pattern:
after [event/time]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'after' with 'later'; 'later' cannot directly link two events in the same way as 'after'.
Synonyms
following (Slightly more formal; often used in written contexts.)
Antonyms
before (Indicates an earlier time instead of a later one.)
Collocations
after school
|after work
|after lunch
|after midnight
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We went for ice cream after the movie.
- Please call me after lunch.
- He felt much better after a good night’s sleep.
Learner examples
- I wash my hands after dinner.
- She goes home after school.
- We eat cake after the meal.
adverb
A2
relation
2
At a later time
Happening at a time later than before.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add an object after 'after' in this adverb use, which is incorrect ('He came after me' means 'following me', not 'later').
Synonyms
later (Close in meaning; 'later' is more general and can stand alone without reference to another event.)
Antonyms
beforehand (Means earlier in time.)
Collocations
soon after
|shortly after
|not long after
Themes
time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He arrived at noon and left soon after.
- I’ll see you shortly after.
- Not long after, it began to rain.
Learner examples
- I arrived and she came soon after.
- We ate and then went out after.
- It started to rain not long after.
conjunction
B1
relation
3
Because something has happened
Used to say that something is true because another thing has happened.
Usage pattern:
after [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this causal 'after' with purely temporal uses; context determines meaning.
Synonyms
since ('Since' can also indicate cause, but is slightly more formal.)
Themes
reasoning
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After you’ve apologized, we can move on.
- We can’t complain, after all we agreed to this.
- After what happened, she never trusted him again.
Learner examples
- We can go home after we finish.
- After he said sorry, she smiled.
- After the rain stopped, we went out.
preposition
A2
relation
4
Following in order or position
Used to show something is next in order or position.
Usage pattern:
after [someone/something]
Synonyms
behind ('Behind' can be physical; 'after' can be sequential or figurative.)
Antonyms
before (Indicates earlier in order or position.)
Collocations
named after
|come after
|next after
Themes
order
|space
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Your name comes after mine on the list.
- The number 3 comes after 2.
- She’s next after John in line.
Learner examples
- B is after A in the alphabet.
- My seat is after yours.
- He is next after her.
preposition
B1
relation
5
In pursuit of or seeking
Used to say someone is trying to get or catch someone or something.
Usage pattern:
after [someone/something]
Common mistake:
'After' here can be confused with its time meaning; context of pursuit is key.
Synonyms
pursuing (More formal than 'after'; often used for goals or people.)
Antonyms
avoid (Means to keep away from instead of seeking.)
Collocations
run after
|look after (different meaning)
|go after
Themes
movement
|goals
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police are after the suspect.
- He’s after a new job in marketing.
- She’s been after me to fix the sink.
Learner examples
- The dog ran after the ball.
- The police are after him.
- I am after a new phone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
after
IPA
GB/ˈæftɚ/
US/ˈæftɚ/
Syllables & stress
after (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (after)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: after
- Plural: afters
Word family
Forms
afters
noun
Core family
afternoon
noun A1
afterwards
adverb A2
Negative and opposite forms
before
preposition A1
Advanced or less common
Expressions
after all
1/ˈæftɚ ˈɔl/
fixed phrase
Considering all the facts/reasons
Used to say something is true when you think about all the facts or reasons.
Examples
- We decided not to go, after all it was raining heavily.
- He might be late, but he’s reliable, after all.
go after
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈæftɚ/
phrasal verb
Try to get/catch something/someone
To try to get, catch, or achieve something or someone.
Examples
- He decided to go after his dream job.
- The cat went after the mouse.
name after
1/nˈeɪm ˈæftɚ/
phrasal verb
Give same name as another person/thing
To give someone or something the same name as another person or thing.
Examples
- They named their son after his grandfather.
- The street was named after a famous poet.
run after
1/ɹˈʌn ˈæftɚ/
phrasal verb
Physically chase someone/something moving away
To run in order to catch someone or something moving away from you.
Examples
- The boy ran after the ice cream truck.
- She ran after him to give back his wallet.
look after
1/lˈʊk ˈæftɚ/
phrasal verb
take care of someone/something
To take care of someone or something and keep them safe or in good condition.
Examples
- Can you look after my dog while I’m away?
- Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
- She looks after her younger brother every afternoon.