What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thereafter
Example
The company went bankrupt, and thereafter, its employees lost their jobs. [thereafter: adverb]
Example
The team will have a meeting with the coach thereafter the game. [thereafter: preposition]
Example
The storm caused a power outage, and thereafter, the city was plunged into darkness. [thereafter: conjunction]
afterward
Example
We had dinner, and afterward, we watched a movie. [afterward: adverb]
Example
The concert ended, and afterward, we met the band backstage. [afterward: adverb]
Example
She finished her studies, and afterward, she started working. [afterward: conjunction]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Afterward is more commonly used than thereafter in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thereafter and afterward?
Thereafter is more formal than afterward, making it more appropriate for academic or legal writing.
