After and Earlier

After

After adverb - Following in time or place.
Usage example: upon seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, and for a long time after, Irma wanted to play the part of the Mouse King

Earlier is an antonym for after in topics: at the end of, prior to.

Earlier

Earlier adverb - So as to precede something in order of time.
Usage example: he had arrived earlier to take care of some preliminary matters

After is an antonym for earlier.
Cite this Source
Earlier and After. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/after/earlier
After & Earlier. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/after/earlier>.
Earlier or After. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/after/earlier.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "after" and "earlier" have occurred on timeline