after
after preposition, conjunction, adverb, adjectiveBrE /ˈɑːftə(r)/
NAmE /ˈæftər/
preposition
word origin1 later than sth; following sth in time
We'll leave after lunch. They arrived shortly after 5.Not long after that he resigned.Let's meet the day after tomorrow/the week after next.After winning the prize she became famous overnight.After an hour I went home (= when an hour had passed).(NAmE) It's ten after seven in the morning (= 7.10 a.m.) 2 … after… used to show that sth happens many times or continuouslyday after day of hot weather I've told you time after time not to do that. 
see also one after another at one 3 behind sb when they have left; following sbShut the door after you. I'm always having to clean up after the children (= clean the place after they have left it dirty and untidy).He ran after her with the book.She was left staring after him. 4 next to and following sb/sth in order or importanceYour name comes after mine in the list. He's the tallest, after Richard.After you (= Please go first).After you with the paper (= Can I have it next?). 5 in contrast to sthIt was pleasantly cool in the house after the sticky heat outside. 6 as a result of or because of sth that has happenedI'll never forgive him after what he said. 7 despite sth; although sth has happenedI can't believe she'd do that, not after all I've done for her. 8 trying to find or catch sb/sthThe police are after him.He's after a job at our place. 9 about sb/sthShe asked after you (= how you were). 10 in the style of sb/sth; following the example of sb/stha painting after GoyaWe named the baby ‘Ena’ after her grandmother. 11 after- (in adjectives) happening or done later than the time or event mentionedafter-hours drinking (= after closing time)an after-school clubafter-dinner mints
ˌafter ˈall 1 despite what has been said or expectedSo you made it after all! 2 used when you are explaining sth, or giving a reasonHe should have paid. He suggested it, after all. be after doing sth (IrishE) 1 to be going to do sth soon; to be intending to do sth soon 2 to have just done sthconjunction word originI'll call you after I've spoken to them. Several years after they'd split up they met again by chance in Paris.adverb word originThat was in 1996. Soon after, I heard that he'd died. I could come next week, or the week after.And they all lived happily ever after. adjective word originin after years
