af ‧ ter ‧ wards S2 W3 /ˈɑːftəwədz $ ˈæftərwərdz/ BrE AmE adverb ( also afterward )
after an event or time that has already been mentioned:
Charles arrived shortly afterwards.
days/weeks etc afterwards
The experience haunted me for years afterwards.
She died not long afterwards.
Afterwards, I was asked to write a book.
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THESAURUS
▪ after preposition after something happens, or after a period of time has passed. After is used especially when taking about the past:
We went for a walk after lunch.
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After an hour, we got tired of waiting and went home.
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They got married just after Christmas.
▪ in preposition after a particular period of time. In is used especially when talking about the future, especially the next few minutes, hours, days etc:
The concert’s due to start in a few minutes.
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I’ll come back in an hour.
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In a few years’ time, this place will look completely different.
▪ within preposition after less than a month, two weeks etc has passed – used especially when the time seems surprisingly short: within a month/two weeks etc :
He developed a headache at lunchtime, and within two hours he was dead.
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Within two days of arriving she had managed to upset everyone.
▪ 24 hours/a year etc from now at a time 24 hours, a year etc after now:
A week from now we’ll be in Paris.
▪ afterwards ( also afterward especially American English ) adverb after an event or time you have mentioned:
Jones admitted afterwards that she had been very nervous during the game.
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Speaking to reporters afterward, he said the operation had been a success.
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He moved to Belgium, and soon afterwards he met Angela.
▪ later adverb some time after now or after the time you are talking about:
I’ll tell you about it later when I’m less busy.
| two months/three years etc later :
James went off, and came back ten minutes later with some food.
▪ subsequently adverb formal after something had happened in the past:
The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently translated into fifteen languages.