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after school
/ˈæf.tɚ skuːl/
time after classes end
I play soccer after school every Tuesday.
The activity happens during the time following the end of school classes.
neutral
The period of time following the end of school classes.
She attends piano lessons after school.
She goes to piano lessons during the time after her school day ends.
The after-school program helps students with homework.
The program operates during the time after regular school hours.
Commonly used in educational contexts to describe activities, programs, or events occurring outside regular school hours.
Collocations
after-school programan organized activity for students after regular classesafter-school caresupervised care for children after school endsafter-school cluban extracurricular group meeting after school
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Hyphenation Rule
When 'after school' functions as an adjective before a noun, it is typically hyphenated (e.g., 'after-school program'). When used as an adverbial phrase (describing when something happens), it remains two words (e.g., 'I go home after school').
Gold Rule
Contextual Meaning
Always clarify whether 'after school' refers to time (e.g., 'after school hours') or activities (e.g., 'after-school clubs'). The context usually makes this clear.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the adverb 'after' (Old English 'æfter', meaning 'later in time') and the noun 'school' (from Latin 'schola', meaning 'leisure devoted to learning'). The compound form emerged in the late 19th century as formal education systems expanded.
Usage Notes
Used primarily in educational settings to refer to activities or time periods outside regular school hours. Common in both American and British English, though 'after-school' is typically hyphenated when used as an adjective (e.g., 'after-school activities').
Word Breakdown
after
later in time
adverbschool
institution for teaching and learning
nounEnglish Dictionary