subsequently

subsequently — adverb

1. at a point in time that comes after an earlier event or situation, often used to

1.adverbC1
Definition

at a point in time that comes after an earlier event or situation, often used to show the order in which things happen

Example

Ziad missed the deadline and subsequently lost the contract.

adverb before verb; formal sequence connector

The manager approved the budget; subsequently, the team began hiring new staff.

sentence-initial position after semicolon

Common collocations
  • subsequently became
  • subsequently found
  • subsequently known as
  • subsequently agreed
  • subsequently withdrew
Synonyms
  • later

    more common in everyday speech; neutral register

  • afterwards

    similar meaning but slightly less formal; more common in British English

  • thereafter

    more formal; typical of legal, official, or historical writing

Antonyms
  • previously

    refers to a time before a reference event

  • beforehand

    implies an action done in preparation before an event

Usage Note

Common in formal or academic writing rather than everyday conversation. It typically appears at the beginning of a clause or directly before the verb it modifies. In casual speech, 'later' or 'after that' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

Subsequently to the meeting, we left.
After the meeting, we left.
'subsequently to' is non-standard; use 'after' or 'following' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Subsequently', 'later', 'afterwards', and 'thereafter' all refer to a point in time that follows an earlier event. 'Subsequently' carries a formal, often academic or journalistic tone and is frequently used to show a logical consequence — for example, 'Ziad missed the deadline and subsequently lost the contract.' 'Later' is the most common and neutral choice for everyday speech. 'Afterwards' sits between the two in formality and is more common in British English than American. 'Thereafter' is the most formal, typical of legal or historical writing: 'The treaty was signed in 1919; thereafter, the borders remained unchanged.' Choose 'subsequently' when you need to emphasise a direct cause-and-effect sequence in formal prose.

later ↗afterwards ↗thereafter ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • subsequently became
  • subsequently known as
  • subsequently withdrew
  • subsequently found
  • subsequently agreed

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'subsequi' ('sub-' meaning 'after, from below' + 'sequi' meaning 'to follow'), via the Latin adverb 'subsequent-' ('following after') and into Middle English through French. The modern English adverb 'subsequently' has been in use since the 15th century to describe events that follow in time or order.