1
general::
after
preposition after something happens, or after a period of time has passed. After is used especially when taking about the past:
• We went for a walk after lunch. • After an hour, we got tired of waiting and went home. • They got married just after Christmas.
in
preposition after a particular period of time. In is used especially when talking about the future, especially the next few minutes, hours, days etc:
• The concert’s due to start in a few minutes. • I’ll come back in an hour. • In a few years’ time, this place will look completely different.
within
preposition after less than a month, two weeks etc has passed – used especially when the time seems surprisingly short:
• within a month/two weeks etc: He developed a headache at lunchtime, and within two hours he was dead. • Within two days of arriving she had managed to upset everyone.
24 hours/a year etc from now
at a time 24 hours, a year etc after now:
• A week from now we’ll be in Paris.
afterwards
( also afterward especially American English ) adverb after an event or time you have mentioned:
• Jones admitted afterwards that she had been very nervous during the game. • Speaking to reporters afterward, he said the operation had been a success. • He moved to Belgium, and soon afterwards he met Angela.
later
adverb some time after now or after the time you are talking about:
• I’ll tell you about it later when I’m less busy. • two months/three years etc later: James went off, and came back ten minutes later with some food.
subsequently
adverb formal after something had happened in the past:
• The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently translated into fifteen languages.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with AFTER, Also see DAY AFTER DAY; GET AFTER; GO AFTER; INQUIRE AFTER; KEEP AFTER; LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER; LOOK AFTER; MORNING AFTER; NAME AFTER; RUN AFTER; SEE AFTER; SOUGHT AFTER; TAKE AFTER; THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD; TIME AFTER TIME.
American Heritage Idioms