afterward
- 1At a later or following time; after the event or period just mentioned.
The first tremor struck at noon, and a stronger one followed shortly afterward.
Afterward, few of the witnesses could agree on what they had seen.
Similarlater, subsequently, after, thereafter
Oppositebefore, beforehand, earlier, previously
Note
After and the direction suffix -ward make up this adverb, which has come down through Middle English from Old English æfterweard. Afterwards, with a final -s, is the same word and means exactly the same; a BBC Sport match report has two saves following "quickly afterwards." Either form often takes a word of time in front of it: shortly afterward, soon afterward, not long afterward.
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Origin
Inherited from Middle English afterward, from Old English æfterweard; it is equivalent to after + -ward.