hereafter

/ˈhɪr.æf.tər/
adverbIntermediate time after the present
formal

The time after the present; the future.

The contract stipulates that all rights will be transferred hereafter.

This means the rights will be transferred in the future.

💡

Often used in legal or formal contexts to refer to future events or conditions.

literaryreligious

In the afterlife; in heaven or hell.

He believed his soul would find peace hereafter.

He believed his soul would find peace in the afterlife.

💡

This meaning is more common in religious or literary contexts.

Collocations

hereafter beto exist or occur in the futurehereafter referto mention or indicate something in the future

Related Phrases

hereinafterphrase
in the future; from this point onward

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Religious Use

Be aware that 'hereafter' can mean either the future in general or the afterlife, depending on context.

Gold Rule

Legal Context

In legal documents, 'hereafter' typically refers to future events or conditions.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'hereafter,' from Old English 'her æfter,' meaning 'after this.'

📝Usage Notes

The word is often used in legal documents to refer to future events or conditions. In religious contexts, it can refer to the afterlife.

Word Breakdown

here
this place or time
root
+
after
following in time
root
English Dictionary