after

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
after/ˈɑːftə(r)/

▶preposition

• 1 in the time following (an event or another period of time).

  ■ N. Amer. past (used in specifying a time).

• 2 behind.

  ■ in the direction of someone who is moving away.

• 3 in pursuit or quest of.

• 4 next to and following in order or importance.

• 5 in allusion or reference to: he was named after his grandfather.

  ■ in the style or following the example of.

▶conjunction & adverb in the time following (an event). ▶adjective

• 1 archaic later.

• 2 nearer the stern of a ship.

– phrases
after all in spite of any indications or expectations to the contrary.
after hours after normal working or opening hours.
after you a polite formula offering precedence.
be after doing something Irish be on the point of doing something or have just done it.

– origin OE æfter, of Gmc origin.