later 1 of 2

adverb

ˈlā-tər How to pronounce later (audio)
Definition of laternext
as in afterward
following in time or place we're going to go to the mall later on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

later

2 of 2

adjective

ˈlā-tər How to pronounce later (audio)
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else the details of the plan will be filled in at a later date

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of later
Adverb
The residents were later evacuated, and no one was hurt, police said. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The board later drew criticism for holding only one public forum with the three finalists before making its choice. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The actor faced several health challenges in his later years. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026 Siegel said the lower cancer rates were consistent with the possibility that less early sugar exposure and healthier later-life diets played a role. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for later
Recent Examples of Synonyms for later
  1. afterward
  2. subsequent
  3. after
  4. thereafter
Adverb
  • Tagovailoa on return, boos Falcons and former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was greeted with boos during Friday’s preseason game, lingered on the field afterward to embrace several former teammates and Dolphins staffers.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • However, cooler heads prevailed, with respectful interactions afterward, and Khabib Nurmagomedov even assisting Song.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of afterward
Adjective
  • In September 2025, the agency announced a similar holiday plan for the subsequent holiday season.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Parton had a large hand in paving the way for any subsequent entertainer who tried to navigate the push and pull between pop commerciality and musical tradition, inside and outside of country, from Garth Brooks to Shania Twain to Miley Cyrus.
    — Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Adverb
  • Soon after, Bier accused the Commission of violating the platform’s ad rules and said in a post on X that its ad account had been terminated.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Police describe what seems to be a phone tree the church members use to call on the congregation to pray and go to the family’s home — sometimes before the death, sometimes after.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • Promising second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton tore his ACL on the first day of training camp and was shortly thereafter pronounced out for the season.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The movement thereafter played a prominent role in protests across the United States and in other countries, particularly in the wake of the murders of Eric Garner in 2014 and George Floyd in 2020.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of thereafter

Phrases Containing later

Browse Nearby Words

latent
later
lateral
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Cite this Entry

“Later.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/later. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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