TKG English Learner's Dictionary

after

2 entries: preposition · conjunction

afterpreposition

American /ˈæf.tər/ British /ˈɑːf.tə/ The stress is on the first part. American English uses the a of cat; British English uses the longer ah sound of father.
very commondefining vocabulary

After shows a later time, a following position or a chase, or where a name comes from.

  1. later thanlater in time than something

    Collocations

    phrase after a while, soon after, shortly after, day after day

    Antonyms before

  2. following or chasingfollowing, chasing, or trying to find someone or something

    Collocations

    verb + preposition run after, chase after, be after

  3. named forwith the same name as someone else, to show love or respect for them

    • They named the baby after her grandmother.
    • The street is named after a local hero.

    Collocations

    verb + preposition name someone after, named after

Phrases

after all

in spite of what was said, planned, expected, or done before

Word family

  • afterward

Usage

After is also a conjunction, joining two clauses (after we ate, we left), and an adverb meaning later (the day after); this entry covers only the preposition, used directly before a noun phrase.

See also after; after

afterconjunction

American /ˈæf.tər/ British /ˈɑːf.tə/ The stress is on the first part. American English uses the a of cat; British English uses the longer ah sound of father.
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. at a time later than the time when something happens

    An after clause names the earlier of two actions; the main clause names the later one. In a clause about the future, after takes the present tense (after I finish) or the present perfect (after I have finished), not will.

    Antonyms before

    Compare once (once stresses that the second thing happens as soon as the first is done)

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap In a clause about the future, after takes the present tense, not will: after I finish, not after I will finish. The past perfect (after she had left) is common but not required when the order of events is already clear.

Common mistakes

I will call you after I will finish work. I will call you after I finish work.
A clause with after about the future uses the present tense, not will.
After finish my homework, I watched TV. After I finished my homework, I watched TV.
The conjunction after needs a full clause with a subject (after I finished). Without a subject, use after as a preposition with an -ing form (after finishing).

See also after (before a noun or an -ing form (after lunch, after finishing)); after (without a following clause (soon after))