after

Behind someone or something, or at a later time.

• I left, and she came after.
• He called shortly after.
• We met again years after.

Similar words: later, behind, afterward

Opposites: before

Common phrases: soon after, shortly after, follow after

At a time later than a particular event or time.

• Call me after lunch.
• We went home after the concert.
• Did you sleep after taking the medicine?

How to use it: after doing something (Wash your hands after touching raw meat.)

Similar words: following

Opposites: before

Common phrases: after lunch, after school, after work, after midnight

Behind someone or something in a line, list, or other order.

• Your name comes after mine.
• Put the blue card after the red one.
• Who comes after you in the queue?

Similar words: behind, following

Opposites: before

Common phrases: after someone, come after something, page after page

Trying to catch someone or get something you want.

• The dog ran after me.
• Are you after a new job?
• They went after the biggest prize.

How to use it: be after someone/something (The police are after the driver.)

Similar words: in pursuit of, seeking

Common phrases: run after someone, be after something, go after something, chase after someone

When you clean up this way, you remove the mess another person has left.

• Please clean up after yourself.
• She picked up after the children all morning.
• I'm tired of tidying up after you.

How to use it: clean up after someone (I'm always cleaning up after my children.)

Common phrases: clean up after someone, pick up after someone, tidy up after someone

You use this to say that one event happens later than another event.

• I'll call after I get home.
• She rested after she finished the work.
• Can we play after we've eaten?

How to use it: after + clause (We ate after everyone had arrived.)

Similar words: once

Opposites: before

Common phrases: after you arrive, after we finish, after someone leaves

At or near the back of a ship or aircraft.

• The crew gathered on the after deck.
• Smoke rose from the after compartment.
• They stored the equipment in the after cabin.

Similar words: rear, aft

Opposites: forward

Common phrases: after deck, after cabin, after hatch