after that
2 antonyms and opposites of after that, grouped by meaning.
Adverb — Following the event or point in time just mentioned; next in a sequence.
Antonyms
How to use after that
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral. Extremely common as a linking phrase in instructions and storytelling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between after that and afterwards?
They mean the same thing, but after that points explicitly back to a specific event you have just named, while afterwards can stand alone without one. In a set of instructions, after that is the clearer choice because it anchors each step to the last.
Can I start a sentence with after that?
Yes. It is a standard sentence opener and usually takes a comma: 'After that, everything changed.' It is common in recipes, instructions and narrative writing.
Is after that formal or informal?
It is neutral and works in both. In very formal writing, subsequently or thereafter may read better, but neither is more correct.