After | Mean of after in English Dictionary

/ˈæftɚ/

• following in time
1. Dinner was at six and we arrived shortly after. [=thereafter]
2. He returned 20 years after. [=later]
3. Don't tell them until after.
4. I expected her then, but she arrived the week after.
5. He ate lunch and left just/right/immediately after.
6. I saw her again the day after. [=the following day]
7. He vowed to love her forever/ever after. [=from that time on, forever]
• at a time following (something or someone)
1. We arrived shortly after six o'clock.
2. He returned after 20 years.
3. before, during, and after the war
4. He left just/right/immediately/soon/shortly after nightfall/dark.
5. Night fell, and soon after that [=soon afterward] he left.
6. He finished the exam after me.
7. I stood up after the judge (did). [=the judge stood up before I (did)]
8. Call me after your arrival.
9. She was going to arrive tomorrow but I'm now expecting her the day after tomorrow instead.
10. She hasn't lived there since (the time) after the war.
11. They earned $30,000 after (paying) taxes.
12. He left after an hour.
13. Let's get going! It's after [=past] 12 (o'clock).
14. The job got easier after a while. [=after some time had passed]
• following and because of (something)
1. After all our advice, she's certain to do better. [=she's certain to do better because we have given her our advice]

• following and in spite of (something)
1. Even after all our advice, she still did badly! [=she did badly even though we gave her our advice]
2. How can you say that after what happened last night?
• following (something or someone) in order or in a series
1. It's the highest mountain after Mount Everest.
2. You'll see my house just before the bank and after the school.
3. The number 2 comes before 3 and after 1. [=2 comes between 1 and 3]
4. My name is listed after yours.
5. You go first and I'll go/follow after you.
6. The children marched out one after the other in single file.
7. After you, Madam!
8. After you with the pencil, please. [=I would like to use the pencil when you have finished using it]
• trying to catch or get (something or someone)
1. The dog ran after the ball. [=the dog ran to get the ball]
2. The police went/chased after the escaped criminal.
3. The police are after him. [=are trying to catch him]
4. What do you think he's after with all his questions? [=what is he trying to achieve by asking his questions?]
5. Mom was after me to clean my room. [=Mom repeatedly told me to clean my room]
• following the actions or departure of (someone)
1. She called/shouted after him as he walked away. [=she called/shouted at/toward him as he walked away]
2. They made a mess and didn't clean up after themselves. [=they didn't clean up the mess they made]
3. If you make a mess, don't expect me to clean up after you.
• with the name of (someone or something)
1. He was called George after his father.
2. She was named after her grandmother. [=she was given the same name as her grandmother]
3. The game rugby was named after Rugby School in England, where it began.
• in the manner of (someone or something)
1. a building patterned after [=on] a cathedral
2. (formal) a story after (the manner of) Hemingway
• in a lower or less important position than (something)
1. They put quality after quantity. [=they cared more about quantity than about quality]
• about or concerning (someone or something)
1. I met one of your old friends and she was asking/inquiring after you. [=she was asking about you; she was asking how you are]
2. She was asking after your health.
• in spite of what was said
1. They decided to go after all.
2. It didn't rain after all.
• later than the time that
1. He returned after 20 years had passed.
2. The defendant stood up after the judge did. [=the judge stood up before the defendant did]
3. Don't tell them until after they've had dinner.
4. He left just/right/immediately/soon/shortly after the show ended.
5. Call me after you arrive.
6. He finished the exam after I did.
7. It happened not long after he graduated from college.
• later in time
1. in after [=later] years