Cool MateAfterwards vs Later
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Afterwards
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Later
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Later
| Afterwards | Later | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɑːftəwədz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæftərwərdz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈleɪtə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈleɪtər/"]/ |
| Meaning | After something happens, at a later time. | After a time or at a future time. |
| Example | Afterwards she was sorry for what she'd said. | I will call you later when I finish my work. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | arrive afterwards, meet afterwards, discuss afterwards, see each other afterwards, leave afterwards | see you later, later than expected, talk about it later |
| Antonyms | beforehand, previously | sooner, earlier |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'after' (not interchangeable)., Omitting 's' in 'afterwards' when using it in sentences., Using 'afterwards' too early in a sentence. | Confused with 'latter' - 'later' refers to time, while 'latter' refers to the second of two items., Misused in phrases where 'after' would be more appropriate., Misspelled as 'latter' when referring to time. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English, 'afterwards' is appropriate for neutral contexts. Avoid in very formal writing where 'subsequently' may be preferred. | Used in both spoken and written English to indicate a time in the future. It is appropriate for casual conversations but can also be used in more formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Afterwards vs Later
What's the difference between Afterwards and Later?
Afterwards: After something happens, at a later time. Later: After a time or at a future time.
Which is more common: Afterwards and Later?
Later is the most common in everyday English.
Are Afterwards and Later the same CEFR level?
Afterwards: B2, Later: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Afterwards and Later interchangeably?
Not always. Afterwards and Later are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.