lat‧er 1 S1 W1 / leɪtə $ -ər / 副词

1 after the time you are talking about or after the present time :

I’m going out for a bit – I’ll see you later.

two years/three weeks etc later

He became Senator two years later.

later that day/morning/week etc

The baby died later that night.

later in the day/week/year

The dentist could fit you in later in the week.

2 later on at some time after the present time :

I can’t eat all of this – I’ll finish it later on.

3 not later than something used to say that something must be done by a particular time in the future :

Completed entry forms should arrive not later than 31st July.

THESAURUS

after 介词 after something happens, or after a period of time has passed. After is used especially when taking about the past : We went for a walk after lunch. | After an hour, we got tired of waiting and went home. | They got married just after Christmas.

in 介词 after a particular period of time. In is used especially when talking about the future, especially the next few minutes, hours, days etc : The concert’s due to start in a few minutes. | I’ll come back in an hour. | In a few years’ time, this place will look completely different.

within 介词 after less than a month, two weeks etc has passed – used especially when the time seems surprisingly short : within a month/two weeks etc : He developed a headache at lunchtime, and within two hours he was dead. | Within two days of arriving she had managed to upset everyone.

24 hours/a year etc from now at a time 24 hours, a year etc after now : A week from now we’ll be in Paris.

afterwards ( also afterward especially American English ) 副词 after an event or time you have mentioned : Jones admitted afterwards that she had been very nervous during the game. | Speaking to reporters afterward, he said the operation had been a success. | He moved to Belgium, and soon afterwards he met Angela.

later 副词 ome time after now or after the time you are talking about : I’ll tell you about it later when I’m less busy. | two months/three years etc later : James went off, and came back ten minutes later with some food.

subsequently 副词 formal after something had happened in the past : The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently translated into fifteen languages.