adverb

1. behind in place
2. behind in time; later; next

Etymology: ME < OE æfter (akin to OHG aftar & MHG after) < of, off + -ter, old compar. suffix

1. behind in place; in back of
2. 1. behind in time; later than after lunch
   2. following year after year
3. 1. in search of
   2. pursuing, hounding, urging, etc. they are after me for a donation
4. as a result of; on account of after what has happened, he won't go
5. in spite of after all we had done, he was still ungrateful
6. following next to in order, rank, or importance
7. in accordance with; in the manner of; patterned on the model of a novel after Hemingway's style
8. for; in honor of a child named after Lincoln
9. concerning; about she asked after you

conjunction

adjective

1. next; later
2. nearer the rear (esp. of a ship or aircraft)