A1preposition 1K

After

UK /["/ˈɑːftə(r)/"]/ US /["/ˈæftər/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

later than something; following something in time

Listen to definition

In simple words: Later in time than something else.

Examples

• We will go to the park after lunch.
• She arrived after the show started.
• He felt tired after running the race.
• I like to read after dinner.
• After the rain, the flowers bloomed beautifully.
• Let's meet at the café after class.
• After the meeting, I will call you.
• They went shopping after school.

Usage notes

Used to indicate time. Common in both spoken and written English. Avoid using in very formal contexts without a clear time reference.

Grammar pattern

after + noun/gerund

Memory hint

Think of 'after' like 'later' — imagine you finish lunch, then you head out!

Collocations

• after school
• after work
• after dinner
• after the event

Synonyms

• following
• subsequent
• later

Antonyms

• before

Common mistakes

• Using 'after' with past tenses incorrectly, e.g., 'after I ate' should be linked with a past event.
• Confusing 'after' with 'before' in timeline contexts.
• Misplacing 'after' in a sentence, leading to unclear meaning.