After Synonym: Following, Once, Later and Subsequently

An after synonym has to match the grammar of your sentence: following and subsequent to go before a noun, once and as soon as go before a clause, and afterward, later and then stand alone. After is one of the busiest words in English, so it pays to know which slot each swap fills.

The groups below give another word for after in five uses, from time order to chasing someone to naming a child in honor of a grandparent. You will also find the antonyms and some notes on the tone of each choice. The transition words page lists more sequence words.

Swatch at a glance

Best swaps
following, once, later, afterward
Part of speech
Preposition, conjunction, adverb
Most formal
subsequent to, thereafter
Most casual
post (post-workout), down the line
For bad events
in the wake of, in the aftermath of
Antonyms
before, prior to, ahead of
Watch out
Afterward cannot take an object. Write after lunch, never afterward lunch.

Find your after synonym by sentence slot

Slot	Swap with	Example
Before a noun	following, subsequent to, in the wake of	Following the storm, roads closed.
Before a clause	once, as soon as, when	Once the bell rings, you may leave.
Alone, as an adverb	afterward, later, then, next	We ate and walked home afterward.
Place or chase	behind, in pursuit of	The dog ran in pursuit of the ball.

Test your swap by reading the sentence aloud. If it sounds broken, you probably put a clause word in a noun slot or the other way around.

Tone from later to subsequent to

The chips run from relaxed to formal. Later is what most people say. Once adds a sense that the first event unlocks the second. Following is neutral and common in news and notices. Subsequently is a formal adverb suited to reports. Subsequent to is the stiffest choice and mostly appears in legal or official writing. In a friendly email, after or once is nearly always better.

Sentences with the swap made

After the meeting, call me becomes once the meeting ends, call me.
After dinner we watched the stars becomes following dinner, we watched the stars.
She moved to the coast after that becomes she later moved to the coast.
Prices rose after the flood becomes prices rose in the wake of the flood.
He was named after his uncle becomes he was named for his uncle (a usage heard mostly in the US).
The police went after the thief becomes the police went in pursuit of the thief.

In an office email: "After you sign the form, send it back to me." Changing it to "Once you sign the form, send it back" makes the order of steps feel firmer. The reader knows signing comes first and sending depends on it.

Afterward, afterwards and after that

Afterward and afterwards mean the same. Afterward is more common in American English, afterwards in British English. Both work at the end of a sentence: "We cleaned up afterward."

After that starts a new step in a story. You can swap it for then, next, later or eventually if a long gap passed. Thereafter is the formal version and suits written instructions or history writing.

Pairs that confuse writers

Since is not just a fancy after. It means from a past point up to now: "I have lived here since spring." After spring would mean something else.

In the aftermath of almost always follows something bad, like a crash or a war. Using it after a party sounds odd.

Post as a prefix or short word (post-match, post-holiday) is casual and best kept to headlines, notes and chat.

For the time word that sits in the middle of an event, see during synonyms.

Opposites of after

Before is the direct antonym. Prior to is its formal twin, and ahead of often refers to plans or deadlines. Preceding works before a noun: the preceding week.

Please arrive before nine.
Prior to the launch, the team ran three tests.
We finished ahead of schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What is a formal way to say after?

Following, subsequent to and thereafter are the formal options. Following works in most contexts, while subsequent to can sound stiff outside legal or academic writing.

Is following correct in place of after?

Yes. Following the meeting means after the meeting, and it is widely accepted. Avoid it when it could be misread as someone physically following, as in following the guide.

Which word means after a bad event?

In the wake of and in the aftermath of are used for storms, crises and accidents. Both suggest effects that continue for a while.

Can once replace after?

Yes, when a clause follows: once you finish, once it stops raining. Once also hints that the second action depends on the first.

What is the opposite of after?

Before is the plain opposite. Prior to and ahead of are common alternatives, the first being more formal.

Is afterwards British or American?

Afterwards is the usual British form, while American writers mostly prefer afterward. Both are correct everywhere, so just stay consistent.