After is usually a preposition. If something happens after a particular time or event, it happens during the period that follows that time or event.
You can say that someone does something after doing something else.
Be Careful!
Don't say that someone is 'after' a particular age. You say that they are over that age.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'after' to say that something is at the back of something else. The word you use is behind.
Afterwards is an adverb. If something happens afterwards, it happens after a particular event or time that has already been mentioned. You often use afterwards in expressions like not long afterwards, soon afterwards, and shortly afterwards.
Afterward is also sometimes used, especially in American English.
Later is an adverb. You use later to refer to a time or situation that follows the time when you are speaking.
A little, much, and not much can be used with later.
You can use after, afterwards, or later following a phrase that mentions a period of time, in order to say when something happens.
Adj. | 1. | later - coming at a subsequent time or stage; "without ulterior argument"; "the mood posterior to" subsequent - following in time or order; "subsequent developments" |
2. | later - at or toward an end or late period or stage of development; "the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the disease"; "later medical science could have saved the child" early - being or occurring at an early stage of development; "in an early stage"; "early forms of life"; "early man"; "an early computer" | |
Adv. | 1. | ![]() |
2. | later - at some eventual time in the future; "By and by he'll understand"; "I'll see you later" | |
3. | later - comparative of the adverb `late'; "he stayed later than you did" |