after Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite located farther aft
  2. adverb happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
    afterwards; later; later on; subsequently; afterward.
    • he apologized subsequently
    • he's going to the store but he'll be back here later
    • it didn't happen until afterward
    • two hours after that
  3. adverb behind or in the rear
    • and Jill came tumbling after

WordNet

Aft"er adjective
Etymology
AS. æfter after, behind; akin to Goth. aftaro, aftra, backwards, Icel. aptr, Sw. and Dan. efter, OHG. aftar behind, Dutch and LG. achter, Gr. further off. The ending -ter is an old comparative suffix, in E. generally -ther (as in other), and after is a compar. of of, off. See Of; cf. Aft.
Definitions
  1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life. Marshall. ✍ In this sense the word is sometimes needlessly combined with the following noun, by means of a hyphen, as, after-ages, after-act, after-days, after-life. For the most part the words are properly kept separate when after has this meaning.
  2. Hinder; nearer the rear. (Naut.) To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway. It is often combined with its noun; as, after-bowlines, after-braces, after-sails, after-yards, those on the mainmasts and mizzenmasts.
Aft"er preposition
Definitions
  1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. "Shut doors after you." Shak.
  2. Below in rank; next to in order. Shak.
    Codrus after Phbus sings the best. Dryden.
  3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause.
    After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32.
  4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful.
  5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course.
  6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of.
    Ye shall not go after other gods. Deut. vi. 14.
    After whom is the king of Israel come out? 1 Sam. xxiv. 14.
  7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness.
  8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father.
    Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. Goldsmith.
  9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind.
    He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. Isa. xi. 3.
    They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Rom. viii. 5.
  10. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. Archaic
    He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon.
Aft"er adverb
Definitions
  1. Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he follows after.
    It was about the space of three hours after. Acts. v. 7.
    ✍ After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be adverbial, prepositional, or adjectival; as in after- described, after-dinner, after-part. The hyphen is sometimes needlessly used to connect the adjective after with its noun. See Note under After, a., 1.

Webster 1913