1 a : at a time following (something or someone) : later than (something or someone) ▪ We arrived shortly after six o'clock. ▪ He returned after 20 years. ▪ before, during, and after the war ▪ He left just/right/immediately/soon/shortly after nightfall/dark. ▪ Night fell, and soon after that [=soon afterward] he left. ▪ He finished the exam after me. ▪ I stood up after the judge (did). [=the judge stood up before I (did)] ▪ Call me after your arrival. ▪ She was going to arrive tomorrow but I'm now expecting her the day after tomorrow instead. ▪ She hasn't lived there since (the time) after the war. ▪ They earned $30,000 after (paying) taxes. ▪ He left after an hour. ▪ Let's get going! It's after [=past] 12 (o'clock). ▪ The job got easier after a while. [=after some time had passed] b US —used to describe a time following a specified hour ▪ It's 20 (minutes) after 12. [=it's 20 past 12; it's 12:20]
2 a : following and because of (something) ▪ After all our advice, she's certain to do better. [=she's certain to do better because we have given her our advice] b : following and in spite of (something) ▪ Even after all our advice, she still did badly! [=she did badly even though we gave her our advice] ▪ How can you say that after what happened last night?
3 a : following (something or someone) in order or in a series ▪ It's the highest mountain after Mount Everest. ▪ You'll see my house just before the bank and after the school. ▪ The number 2 comes before 3 and after 1. [=2 comes between 1 and 3] ▪ My name is listed after yours. ▪ You go first and I'll go/follow after you. ▪ The children marched out one after the other in single file. ◊The phrase after you is used as a polite way of saying that someone should go ahead of you or do something before you do it. ▪ After you, Madam! ◊In British English, you can say after you with something to ask the person who is using something to let you use it next. ▪ After you with the pencil, please. [=I would like to use the pencil when you have finished using it] b —used in phrases to describe something that happens many times or for a long period of time ▪ They have suffered misfortune after misfortune. [=they have suffered a long series of misfortunes] ▪ Wave after [=upon] wave was beating against the shore. ▪ She does her job day after day without complaining. ▪ He's done the same thing time after time.
4 : trying to catch or get (something or someone) ▪ The dog ran after the ball. [=the dog ran to get the ball] ▪ The police went/chased after the escaped criminal. ▪ The police are after him. [=are trying to catch him] ▪ What do you think he's after with all his questions? [=what is he trying to achieve by asking his questions?] ◊If people are after you to do something, they want you to do it and they tell you to do it repeatedly. ▪ Mom was after me to clean my room. [=Mom repeatedly told me to clean my room]
5 : following the actions or departure of (someone) ▪ She called/shouted after him as he walked away. [=she called/shouted at/toward him as he walked away] ▪ They made a mess and didn't clean up after themselves. [=they didn't clean up the mess they made] ▪ If you make a mess, don't expect me to clean up after you.
6 a : with the name of (someone or something) ▪ He was called George after his father. ▪ She was named after her grandmother. [=she was given the same name as her grandmother] ▪ The game rugby was named after Rugby School in England, where it began. b : in the manner of (someone or something) ▪ a building patterned after [=on] a cathedral ▪ (formal) a story after (the manner of) Hemingway
7 : in a lower or less important position than (something) ▪ They put quality after quantity. [=they cared more about quantity than about quality]
8 : about or concerning (someone or something) ▪ I met one of your old friends and she was asking/inquiring after you. [=she was asking about you; she was asking how you are] ▪ She was asking after your health.