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afterward

af·ter·ward

UK/ˈɑːftə.wəd/US/ˈæf.tɚ.wɚd/

A form of afterwards — At a later or succeeding time; after that;

Similar

subsequently later afterwards after later on

Opposite

OriginMiddle English afterward ← Old English æfterweard →

Less commonScrabble 16

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Meanings

adverbafterward (not comparable)

USalternativenot comparableAlternative form of afterwards.

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbhappening at a time subsequent to a reference time

Similar

subsequently later afterwards after later on

Also see

after afterwards afterword later later on on subsequently thereafter

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Old Englishæfterweard
Middle Englishafterward
Englishafterward

Inherited from Middle English afterward, from Old English æfterweard; equivalent to after + -ward.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Sounds the same

Cite this entry

APA

afterward. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/afterward

MLA

“afterward.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/afterward. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “afterward,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/afterward.

Source: afterward on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.