after

preposition

/ˈɑːf.tər/

/ˈæf.tɚ/

Definition

A1 following in time, place, or order: Shall we go for a walk after breakfast? Some people believe in life after death. Her name came after mine on the list. There's a good film on the day after tomorrow. She waited until well after midnight.US It's a quarter after four. She just keeps on working, day after day, week after week (= continuously). We've had meeting after meeting (= many meetings) to discuss this point. Jessie seemed very small after (= in comparison with) Michael's children. After (= despite) everything I've done for you, is this the way you treat me? After (= because of) what she did to me, I'll never trust her again. The children have to learn to tidy up after themselves (= after they have made things untidy). She slammed the door after (= behind) her. We ran after (= followed) him, but he escaped. Could you lock up after you (= when you leave), please?Before, after and alreadyAfter and behindAfter and behindBefore, after and already be after sb/sth informal › to be looking for someone or something or trying to find or get them: The police are after him. I'm after a tie to go with this shirt. I'm sure she's after my husband. He's after Jane's job (= wants it for himself).Pursuing after you › used to say politely that someone can go in front of you or serve themselves with food before you: "Can I pour you some coffee?" "Oh no, after you."Polite expressions › UK informal used to ask another person to give you something that they are using when they have finished using it: After you with the newspaper, Jack.Making appeals and requests › typical of or similar to the style of: a painting after Titian a concerto after MozartSimilar and the sameDescribing people with the same qualities C2 used when giving someone or something the same name as another person or thing: He was named Mark after his grandfather.

(Definition of after preposition from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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