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Below vs After - What's the difference?

below | after |

As prepositions the difference between below and after

is that below is lower in spatial position than while after is subsequently to; following in time; later than.

As adverbs the difference between below and after

is that below is in a lower place while after is behind; later in time; following.

As a conjunction after is

Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause.

As an adjective after is

later; second (of two); next, following, subsequent.

below

English

Preposition

(English prepositions)
  • Lower in spatial position than.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}
  • Lower in value, price, rank or concentration than.
  • * Addison
  • one degree below kings
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Philip J. Bushnell, magazine=(American Scientist)
  • , title= Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance , passage=Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.}}
  • Downstream of.
  • South of.
  • Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of; beneath.
  • * (John Milton)
  • They beheld, with a just loathing and disdain, how below all history the persons and their actions were.
  • * Hallam
  • who thinks no fact below his regard
  • (stage directions) Downstage of.
  • * 1952 , (Frederick Knott), , 1954 (Dramatists Play Service) acting edition, act 1, scene 1:
  • Below the sofa is a low, round coffee table.

    Synonyms

    * (lower in spatial position than) beneath, under, underneath * (lower in value than) under * (downstream of) downstream * (unsuitable to the rank or dignity of) beneath

    Antonyms

    * (lower in spatial position than) above, over * (lower in value than) over * (downstream of) upstream

    Derived terms

    * below the belt

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a lower place.
  • *
  • *:But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶.
  • On a lower storey.
  • Further down.
  • (lb) On a lower deck.
  • :
  • (lb) Below zero.
  • Synonyms

    * (in a lower place) beneath, under, underneath * (on a lower storey) downstairs * (farther down) downwards

    Antonyms

    * (in a lower place) aloft, overhead, up * (on a lower storey) upstairs * (farther down) upwards

    Derived terms

    (below) * below average * below decks/belowdecks * belowground * below par * below the belt * below the fold

    References

    * Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "The vertical axis", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition , Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

    Statistics

    *

    after

    English

    Alternative forms

    * afther * aftre (obsolete)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Behind; later in time; following.
  • They lived happily ever after .
    I left the room, and the dog bounded after .

    Derived terms

    * after-effect * aftermarket * aftermath * aftertaste * afterwards * go after

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Subsequently to; following in time; later than.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 15, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
  • , title= Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea , passage=After early sparring, Spurs started to take control as the interval approached and twice came close to taking the lead. Terry blocked Rafael van der Vaart's header on the line and the same player saw his cross strike the post after Adebayor was unable to apply a touch.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=52, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The new masters and commanders , passage=From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.}}
  • Behind.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,
  • In pursuit of, seeking.
  • In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.
  • Next in importance or rank.
  • As a result of.
  • In spite of.
  • I can't believe that, after all our advice against gambling, you walked into that casino!
  • (Used to indicate recent completion of an activity)
  • *
  • *
  • * '>citation
  • *
  • *
  • (dated) According to an author or text.
  • Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to.
  • to look after''' workmen; to enquire '''after''' a friend; to thirst '''after righteousness
  • (obsolete) According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value.

    Usage notes

    * The Irish English usage example is equivalent to "I had just finished my dinner when .".

    Derived terms

    * after one's own heart * after you * after-five * afternoon * go after * look after * name after

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • (Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause).
  • :
  • *
  • *:It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.
  • *1991 , Donald "Shadow" Rimgale (character), (Robert DeNiro) (actor),
  • *:So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline?
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= David Van Tassel], [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/lee-dehaan Lee DeHaan
  • , title= Wild Plants to the Rescue , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Plant breeding is always a numbers game.

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (dated) Later; second (of two); next, following, subsequent
  • * 1834 , (w), A Narrative of the Life of , Nebraska 1987, p. 72:
  • I did verily believe in my own mind, that I couldn't fight in that way at all; but my after experience convinced me that this was all a notion.
  • * 1886 , (Thomas Hardy),
  • The amends he had made in after life were lost sight of in the dramatic glare of the original act.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, […], he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned. But he had then none of the oddities and mannerisms which I hold to be inseparable from genius, and which struck my attention in after days when I came in contact with the Celebrity.}}
  • (nautical, where the frame of reference is within the ship) At or towards the stern of a ship.
  • Usage notes

    * As shown in the examples above, the adverb in this nautical usage is (aft) and the related preposition is (abaft).

    Derived terms

    *

    References

    * Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition , Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

    Statistics

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