/ ˈɑːftə(r); NAmE ˈæf-/ preposition , conjunction , adverb , adjective
■ preposition
1.
later than sth; following sth in time :
We'll leave after lunch.
They arrived shortly after 5.
Not long after that he resigned.
Let's meet the day after tomorrow / the week after next .
After winning the prize she became famous overnight.
After an hour I went home (= when an hour had passed) .
( NAmE )
It's ten after seven in the morning (= 7.10 a.m.)
2.
... after ... used to show that sth happens many times or continuously :
day after day of hot weather
I've told you time after time not to do that.
—see also one after another at one
3.
behind sb when they have left; following sb :
Shut the door after you.
I'm always having to clean up after the children (= clean the place after they have left it dirty and untidy) .
He ran after her with the book.
She was left staring after him.
4.
next to and following sb/sth in order or importance :
Your name comes after mine in the list.
He's the tallest, after Richard.
After you (= Please go first) .
After you with the paper. (= Can I have it next?)
5.
in contrast to sth :
It was pleasantly cool in the house after the sticky heat outside.
6.
as a result of or because of sth that has happened :
I'll never forgive him after what he said.
7.
despite sth; although sth has happened :
I can't believe she'd do that, not after all I've done for her.
8.
trying to find or catch sb/sth :
The police are after him.
He's after a job at our place.
9.
about sb/sth :
She asked after you (= how you were) .
10.
in the style of sb/sth; following the example of sb/sth :
a painting after Goya
We named the baby 'Ena' after her grandmother.
11.
after- (in adjectives) happening or done later than the time or event mentioned :
after-hours drinking (= after closing time)
an after-school club
after-dinner mints
•
IDIOMS
- after all
- be after doing sth
■ conjunction
at a time later than sth; when sth has finished :
I'll call you after I've spoken to them.
Several years after they'd split up they met again by chance in Paris.
■ adverb
later in time; afterwards :
That was in 1996. Soon after , I heard that he'd died.
I could come next week, or the week after.
And they all lived happily ever after .
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] ( old use ) following; later :
in after years
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English æfter , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch achter .