adv Uncommon

aft

ahft

Aft (adv) means At or toward the back (stern) of a ship, boat, or aircraft. Example: “The crew moved aft to check the engine room.”

adv

At or toward the back (stern) of a ship, boat, or aircraft.

"The crew moved aft to check the engine room."

"Passengers were seated aft of the wing."

adj

Located at the rear of a boat, ship, or plane.

"The aft cabin had the best view of the wake."

"An aft door leads out onto the deck."

How to use aft

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishToward or at the back of a ship or plane — the opposite of "fore."

Easily confused with

fore →

Common pairings

fore and aft aft deck move aft

Word forms

further aft comparative, farther aft comparative, more aft comparative, further aft comparative, farther aft comparative, more aft comparative, afts plural, furthest aft superlative, farthest aft superlative, most aft superlative, furthest aft superlative, farthest aft superlative, most aft superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “aft” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The crew moved _____ to check the engine room.

Etymology

From Old English æftan ("behind"), related to "after."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →

astern abaft

Antonyms

fore forward

Related words

first early further future front send forward ahead

Rhymes for aft

raft daft Taft craft graft draft shaft Kraft

See all rhymes for aft →

Frequently asked questions

What does “aft” mean?

The word “aft” means at or toward the back (stern) of a ship, boat, or aircraft. In plain terms, toward or at the back of a ship or plane — the opposite of "fore.".

How do you pronounce “aft”?

“Aft” is pronounced ahft (/æft/ in IPA).

How do you use “aft” in a sentence?

Here is “aft” used in a sentence: “The crew moved aft to check the engine room.”

What is the opposite of “aft”?

The opposite of “aft” — its antonyms — are fore and forward.

What part of speech is “aft”?

Depending on how it is used, “aft” can be an adverb and an adjective.

Where does the word “aft” come from?

The word “aft” comes from Old English. From Old English æftan ("behind"), related to "after.".

Is “aft” a common word?

“Aft” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “aft” have?

“Aft” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: at or toward the back (stern) of a ship, boat, or aircraft.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include aft:

Words with old & middle English origins

People also searched

first early further future front send forward ahead