How to Use after in a Sentence

after

1 of 4 adverb
  • He ate lunch and left just after.
  • I expected her then, but she arrived the week after.
  • Don't tell them until after.
  • The next door is to the bathroom, so the one just after must be to the toilet.
    Stephen O’Connor, Harper's magazine, 20 Jan. 2020
  • Not long after, shots were fired and the icon was dead.
    Christina Zdanowicz, CNN, 10 Feb. 2020
  • Soon after, calls came in about a fire at the Wineks’ home.
    Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2022
  • Soon after, the lights went out in the Canton High gym.
    Lori Riley, courant.com, 10 Mar. 2021
  • Savelle left soon after, as did more than half the force.
    John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 26 Apr. 2022
  • The head of the audit team was forced out soon after, and the team was dispersed.
    James Bandler, ProPublica, 28 Dec. 2019
  • Soon after, Davis looks in the back of Brittain's truck.
    Teresa Moss, Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2022
  • The day after, I was hired and then spent the next two years restoring the Louvre.
    Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 7 May 2023
  • Soon after, his friends Rick and Chris White showed up.
    Outdoor Life, 22 Nov. 2023
  • He was released in 2003 for that crime but again ran afoul of the law soon after.
    CBS News, 31 July 2023
  • Soon after, he was seen on the field with his helmet on.
    Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Sep. 2022
  • Not long after, the actress packed up her house and moved out.
    Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 9 Mar. 2022
  • Soon after, he was found guilty of killing 87-year-old Mary Brooks.
    Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Not for a small subset of us, but for each of those who come after.
    Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2021
  • The partners closed their business soon after, and Lee left the state.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
  • The artist died not long after, when Ms. Mendieta was 17.
    Kate Dwyer, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024
  • Not long after, someone asked Pearl to record a video for him.
    Steve Hartman, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Not long after, Stanley took Shane to Salem to live with him.
    Wyatt Mason, New York Times, 27 July 2023
  • Thanks to all who came before, and who will come after.
    Li Cohen, CBS News, 24 May 2022
  • Soon after, her house was swept away by the fast moving flood.
    Jessi Mitchell, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2021
  • On the day after, workers across the city ignored their alarm clocks.
    Collin Eaton, Houston Chronicle, 2 Nov. 2017
  • Soon after, the two met for blind date drinks at the restaurant Wallflower.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024
  • People can protest and then go out to lunch with their friends after.
    Nikki Giovanni, Bon Appétit, 1 Dec. 2020
  • There was rain around 1 p.m., but not long after, the sun came out for at least a couple hours.
    Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 18 Apr. 2023
  • Before that show and after, my life has never been the same.
    Jordan Riefe, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024
  • Some meats get grilled after, and others are served as is.
    Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023
  • Not long after, it is said, Knopf broke a leg while skiing.
    Dwight Garner, Esquire, 24 Jan. 2018
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after

2 of 4 preposition
  • He left after an hour.
  • How can you say that after what happened last night?
  • He finished the exam after me.
  • Call me after your arrival.
  • He left just after nightfall.
  • We arrived shortly after six o'clock.
  • She was going to arrive tomorrow but I'm now expecting her the day after tomorrow instead.
  • It's the highest mountain after Mount Everest.
  • He returned after 20 years.
  • The shocked Cadets tried to process the loss after the game.
    Paul Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 18 Sep. 2021
  • The Harmons are hoping the two will keep the store open after them.
    The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2022
  • Protests rage after police shot a Black man in the back.
    Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2020
  • The mother called the police about 5 p.m. after Porter kicked in the door and entered with a gun.
    Olivia Mitchell, cleveland, 10 Jan. 2022
  • Western built a 45-33 after three quarters and held on in the fourth.
    Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 11 Jan. 2023
  • If your wrists hurt after a long day, one of these could help.
    Cnet, SFChronicle.com, 12 June 2020
  • While shrubs came back after a time, the mangroves did not.
    Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022
  • Police found them the next day in a vacant house south of the zoo after getting a tip.
    Jamie Stengle, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2023
  • That’s not news, not after what is now a 30-year Cup drought for the Canadiens.
    Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2023
  • The next time the agency heard from the family was after Kaitlyn died.
    Barnini Chakraborty, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2020
  • Some reviewers note that the nose piece on this mask can feel tight after many hours.
    Chloe Irving, Health.com, 23 Dec. 2021
  • Aaron Judge is still at .313 after the Yankees were off.
    Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Sep. 2022
  • And some observers have questioned the value of the overture so long after the fact.
    Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2022
  • The junior quarterback was seen with his left arm in a sling after the game.
    Jason Beede, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Sep. 2021
  • Hutchins was pronounced dead just after 3:30 p.m. that day.
    Christina Maxouris, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
  • If his dreams had taken the night train, and the train had crashed with none of them surviving, there was still life after death.
    The Economist, 13 Mar. 2021
  • Minutes after the shooting, a third deputy starts to console Davis while still at the scene.
    Teresa Moss, Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2022
  • Ryan’s two assists put him at 11 points after 21 games.
    Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2021
  • The Lions moved up to draft Williams after a run started on wide receivers.
    Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 29 Apr. 2022
  • For the first few months after the pandemic hit, life was hard for Liz Glasgow and her young son.
    al, 11 Mar. 2021
  • Seton players and coaches went to greet her and hug her after the game.
    James Weber, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2022
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after

3 of 4 adjective
  • Indiana missed a point-after attempt that of course would’ve changed the math at the end of the game.
    Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, 3 Jan. 2020
  • Matt Bryant missed a point-after attempt with 1:53 left to play that would have tied the game.
    Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 14 Oct. 2019
  • The actor's post came with a series of photos from the process, including a before-and-after split of him on the show.
    Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022
  • His snap was perfect, the point-after attempt was good and Olson got a big ovation.
    Zach Helfand, latimes.com, 2 Sep. 2017
  • Tickets for this production are $40 and $29 each for the after show party.
    Rich Heileman, cleveland, 8 Nov. 2019
  • While most celebs snapped at last night's Met Gala on the red carpet, many made sure to debut stunning looks at the after party as well.
    Gianluca Russo, Teen Vogue, 7 May 2019
  • The Fed's key rate is at a still-low range of 1 percent to 1.25 percent after two quarter-point rate increases this year, in March and June.
    Martin Crutsinger, Philly.com, 12 Oct. 2017
  • Glenelg mishandled the snap on the point-after attempt, however, and the Owls remained one score behind.
    Megan Woodward, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 30 Sep. 2019
  • Earlier, in the second quarter, Al East had blocked a Ducks point-after attempt.
    oregonlive, 25 Nov. 2019
  • For a fourth quarter point-after attempt, the Trojans sent out blind long snapper Jake Olson.
    Houston Mitchell, latimes.com, 5 July 2019
  • The Shamrocks eventually scored on that drive, and the two receivers shared another hug in the end zone before the point-after attempt.
    David J. Kim, The Courier-Journal, 8 Dec. 2019
  • An unsportsmanlike penalty forced a 35-yard point-after attempt, which was blocked at the line of scrimmage.
    Mitch Stephens, SFChronicle.com, 2 Nov. 2019
  • The ThunderWolves point-after attempt was unsuccessful for the second straight time, keeping the score at 19-0.
    Wells Dusenbury, Sun-Sentinel.com, 28 Sep. 2017
  • Half of your after-tax income goes toward needs (housing, food, utilities), 30% to wants and 20% is for saving/paying down debts.
    Star Tribune, 23 Jan. 2021
  • Kicker Brandon McManus misses the point-after attempt … but there’s an off-side penalty on Chicago.
    Ryan O’Halloran, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019
  • Alexander Woznick missed his point-after attempt following Samuel's opening touchdown and was well short on a 42-yard attempt that could have pulled the Gamecocks within one score in the fourth quarter.
    Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 16 Sep. 2017
  • The aftermath of their after-dark frenzy was captured in a video posted on Twitter by resident Ted Hunting.
    Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Aug. 2021
  • In the game’s final minute, Cleveland had a chance to tie the game with a late touchdown and point-after attempt, but four pass attempts from goal-to-go distance ended with a Baker Mayfield end zone interception.
    Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 23 Sep. 2019
  • Exotic was not available to comment on the numerous allegations made against him during the after show.
    Rosy Cordero, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2020
  • Morstead conducted more than two dozen interviews during a day that began before dawn and didn't end until well after sunset.
    Jeff Duncan, NOLA.com, 2 Feb. 2018
  • Everything from the ceremony to the after party took place at the couple’s house in Bridgehampton, and the aesthetic was kept very natural and but elegant.
    Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 31 July 2017
  • Her colorist, Jack Martin, revealed this and more in his latest Instagram post, which shows a before-and-after look at Osbourne's transformation.
    Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 18 Feb. 2020
  • While some speculation cited the trend as an after effect of being quarantined at home where bras weren’t needed, the braless look has come and gone many times in previous decades, including the early 2000s.
    Olivia O'Bryon, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021
  • Experts say the same thing occurred in late 1986 - donations surged that year, dropped the next - after enactment of the Reagan administration tax overhaul, the biggest reworking of the U.S. tax system until this one.
    Marcy Gordon, Houston Chronicle, 28 Dec. 2017
  • But some book details, coupled with a behind-the-scenes interview with the showrunners, hint that this may not wind up being the happily-ever-after start of a new family that Cersei is envisioning.
    Joanna Robinson, vanityfair.com, 13 Aug. 2017
  • In response to the video, McKinnon and a colleague from Tibet worked to find satellite images that would provide a better before-and-after look at the region, but geopolitical tensions made the task difficult.
    Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, 12 Sep. 2017
  • The machine, installed at the school’s Activities and Recreation Center over spring break, dispenses the morning-after pill as well as condoms, pregnancy tests, tampons and over-the-counter medication such as Advil.
    Sarah Parvini, latimes.com, 25 Apr. 2017
  • But, even with the couple ditching the after show party together, as well as the photographic proof of a friendship between the two women, everyone is still focusing on those pesky love triangle rumors.
    Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, 26 Feb. 2019
  • Here's a before-and-after look at marijuana shops across Anchorage, some of which have transformed more dramatically than others.
    Annie Zak, Anchorage Daily News, 16 May 2018
  • And, conveniently, a number of states changed the minimum wage during the period the researchers were studying, providing a before-and-after experiment.
    John Timmer, Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2020
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after

4 of 4 noun
  • The before is on the left, and my after is on the right.
    Caroline Manzo, Woman's Day, 5 Feb. 2015
  • The Knights had the point-after kick blocked but grabbed the early lead.
    Pat Stoetzer, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 5 Mar. 2021
  • The shuttered brick mills next to the falls are now sought-after lofts and condos.
    The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 17 Mar. 2018
  • Edwin Ramirez added the point-after to give Waltham a 7-0 lead.
    Kevin Stone, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2022
  • Here are a few vineyards on Pritchard Hill that are the most sought-after.
    Nicole Fritton, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Nov. 2019
  • And in the after sits an even more beautiful young man.
    BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2021
  • My childhood would always have a line drawn through it, the before and the after.
    Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2018
  • Those who wish to may pet the horses in the stable after, or talk to their riders.
    Chicago Reader, 22 June 2017
  • As Khan completes the last leg of the tour, even his after-show merch puts his borough at the forefront.
    Lisa Brown, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2017
  • The 36-year-old James, who is still dealing with the after-effects of a high right ankle sprain, turned back the clock.
    Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2021
  • Also, the lines for the bathrooms will be much shorter, and the after-show beers much cheaper.
    Michael Calore, Wired, 17 May 2021
  • Lincoln scored on the final play of the game to tie the score then kicked the game-winning point-after to secure the victory.
    Bill Lumpkin Iii, al, 30 Sep. 2021
  • The ability to adapt is a quality which is highly sought-after in the modern game, and the twins have that in spades.
    SI.com, 19 July 2017
  • The reds are sought-after, prestigious and often high-priced.
    Lettie Teague, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2017
  • Jokes aside, David did break out the color for the after party, donning a baby blue skirt suit.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024
  • It was written in the after-roar of one war, with another boiling up on the horizon.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2022
  • First-timers may be surprised by all of the after care a tattoo requires—both in the immediate and the long-term.
    Brigitt Earley, womenshealthmag.com, 21 Apr. 2023
  • At the after end, the hulls flare out to make more space for cabins on the accommodations level.
    Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2023
  • The men who’ve beaten the life out of their opponents before a bloodthirsty crowd are never the same after.
    Greg Moore, azcentral, 23 July 2019
  • On Thanksgiving, the furcula is much sought-after to make a wish.
    Sue Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 25 Nov. 2021
  • In the after, Brayonna had learned to become more than a parent to her daughter.
    Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2021
  • The faint after-smells—much like the lingering presence of a downpour—were important to her.
    André-Naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2022
  • For now, the latest Hubble image of Dimorphos at least gives us a good view of the after-effects.
    Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 23 Oct. 2022
  • But the cast has weighed in now too, and in short, happily-ever-after isn’t looking likely.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 24 Sep. 2019
  • Splitting things in two also allowed Benton to make a quick change for the after-parties.
    Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 4 May 2022
  • Netflix's Stranger Things becomes the latest series to get the after-show treatment.
    Bryn Elise Sandberg, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2017
  • In the after photo, Nugget looks impeccably coiffed — and is even sporting a small bow around her neck.
    Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
  • As Damet said shortly afters Jans' departure, the plan for the 2020 club has essentially stayed the same.
    Pat Brennan, Cincinnati.com, 25 Feb. 2020
  • Read reviews, look at images of before and afters, and choose your artist wisely.
    Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 May 2016
  • And in San Antonio, the go-to cure for that throbbing day-after headache and touchy tummy long has been barbacoa.
    Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Apr. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'after.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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