I. lat ‧ er 1 S1 W1 /ˈleɪtə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . after the time you are talking about or after the present time:
I’m going out for a bit – I’ll see you later.
two years/three weeks etc later
He became Senator two years later.
later that day/morning/week etc
The baby died later that night.
later in the day/week/year
The dentist could fit you in later in the week.
2 . later on at some time after the present time:
I can’t eat all of this – I’ll finish it later on.
3 . not later than something used to say that something must be done by a particular time in the future:
Completed entry forms should arrive not later than 31st July.
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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.
II. later 2 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
1 . coming in the future or after something else OPP earlier :
The role of marketing is dealt with in a later chapter.
The launch was postponed to a later date.
2 . more recent OPP earlier :
The engine has been greatly improved in later models.
3 . in later years/life when someone is older:
Using a sunscreen when you are young helps you to have healthy skin in later years.
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THESAURUS
▪ later happening or existing at some time in the future after something or someone else:
We will discuss this at a later time.
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Later historians have cast doubt on the truth of his story.
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They say that they may need to review the case at a later stage.
▪ following happening or coming immediately after something – used about periods of time, or parts of a piece of writing:
He resigned the following year.
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The following day he was back to normal.
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Gandhi 's attitude to religion is dealt with in the following chapter.
▪ future likely to happen or exist at some time in the future:
What influence will this have on future developments?
▪ subsequent formal happening or coming at some time after something else:
a subsequent decision by the Supreme Court
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Subsequent events proved him wrong.
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In subsequent years, the number of patients became smaller and smaller.
▪ succeeding coming after someone or something else - used about a series of groups of people, periods of time, or parts of a book:
His work was admired by succeeding generations.
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Over the succeeding months, the stitches were carefully removed.
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These problems are further discussed in the succeeding chapters.