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 unusual encounter unfolded last week in Kirkland's Moss Bay neighborhood, where police were ultimately able to corral the wild animal before wildlife officials later returned it to its natural habitat. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Then-President Joe Biden in 2022 granted Chevron a permit to operate in Venezuela — a license Trump revoked in March but later reissued on condition that no proceeds went to the Maduro government. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
As Georgina Kleege has observed in her own later-day reckoning, Keller herself would not have been able to find her way around this house, and Godspeed to any other modern-day blind or DeafBlind person who tried. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Viewers were left on a cliffhanger during the later stages of the medieval twist, a competition that took place in the backyard of the house last Thursday night. — Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 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
  • Its subsequent launches picked up on the theme and ran with it, and its latest build takes the most extreme tack yet.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The threat of shattered glass if the bottle breaks, the subsequent odor suffusing all the items in your carryon, liquids seeping dangerously close to electronics—none of it sounds like a good idea.
    — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Adverb
  • Soon after, the two of them met to discuss how the story could be adapted for the cinema.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Then right after was a meeting with a young woman who’s made one movie and has a script that’s ludicrous.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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