after

af•ter

[[t]ˈæf tər, ˈɑf-[/t]] prep.

1) behind in place or position; following behind:

We marched one after the other[/ex]

2) following the completion of; in succession to:

Tell me after supper. Day after day he came to work late[/ex]

3) in consequence of:

After what has happened, I can never return[/ex]

4) below in rank or estimation:

placed after Shakespeare among English poets[/ex]

5) in imitation of:

fashioned after Raphael[/ex]

6) in pursuit or search of:

I'm after a better job[/ex]

7) concerning; about:

to inquire after a person[/ex]

8) in agreement or conformity with:

a man after my own heart[/ex]

9) in spite of:

After all her troubles, she's still optimistic[/ex]

10) behind; in the rear:

Jill came tumbling after[/ex]

11) aer. later in time; afterward:

happily ever after[/ex]

12) later; subsequent:

In after years we never heard from him[/ex]

13)

a) naut. navig. farther aft

b) naut. navig. located closest to the stern or tail; aftermost

14) fun subsequent to the time that:

after the boys left[/ex]

15) brit. afters, Brit. Informal. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) dessert

•

- after all

Etymology: bef. 900; OE æfter, c. OFris efter, OOHG after