Meaning & use
aftermath
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Meanings
nounusually singular
The time and situation that follow a serious event, such as a disaster, war or accident.
Grammar: Usually singular and used with the: in the aftermath of the storm.
Patterns
- in the aftermath of something
- the aftermath of something
In the aftermath of the flood, volunteers helped clean up homes.
The city was quiet in the aftermath of the protests.
People remember the aftermath more than the fire itself.
nounusually singular
The effects or results that remain after an important event, often unwelcome ones.
Grammar: Used with of to name the event: the aftermath of the scandal.
Patterns
- deal with the aftermath
- suffer the aftermath
The company is still dealing with the aftermath of the data breach.
She faced the emotional aftermath of the argument.
The aftermath of the vote divided the town.
Common combinations
- in the aftermath of
- In the aftermath of the quake, schools closed for a week.
- deal with the aftermath
- Residents had to deal with the aftermath of the storm.
- immediate aftermath
- In the immediate aftermath, nobody knew what to do.
- emotional aftermath
- The emotional aftermath lasted for months.
- political aftermath
- The political aftermath of the scandal was severe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- consequences
- Consequences refers to results of any action, while aftermath stresses the period just after a big event.
- wake
- Wake is a similar, more literary word, often used in the phrase in the wake of.
- outcome
- Outcome is a neutral word for a final result, whereas aftermath usually implies damage.
- repercussions
- Repercussions are negative effects that spread, but aftermath describes the scene and period after something happened.
Opposites
Word family
- aftereffect noun
- a result that appears some time after the cause
- after preposition
- following in time
- aftershock noun
- a smaller tremor after an earthquake
- afterglow noun
- a lingering feeling or light after something
Commonly confused: aftermath or afterward?
aftermath vs afterward
Afterward is an adverb meaning later. Aftermath is a noun for the situation that follows a serious event.
Practice
In the ____ of the earthquake, neighbors shared food and water.
Choose one answer.
In the aftermath of is the usual phrase for the period following a disaster. An aftershock is a smaller tremor, which would need a different construction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aftermath”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.