afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
Synonyms of afterlifenext
1
: an existence after death
2
: a later period in one's life
3
: a period of continued or renewed use, existence, or popularity beyond what is normal, primary, or expected
a TV show with a long afterlife in syndication

Synonyms of afterlife

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Examples of afterlife in a Sentence

Does he believe in an afterlife? written in afterlife, his memoirs reveal a kinder, more forgiving man
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Natalie’s is tuned to a distant, hierarchical afterlife where God’s love is less of an all-encompassing conception and more of an elusive, enviable prize. — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Through an afterlife support group, Salon Rose tries to figure out her own murder before moving on to the great unknown. — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 On the 1994 comeback album Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, Sparks imagined Liberace, who died in 1987, making his own comeback in the afterlife, adored again as a phantom haunting the Earth. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 31 July 2026 In 2024, Junger published his most recent book, In My Time of Dying, which recounts how a near-death experience shaped the author’s ideas about mortality and the afterlife. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterlife

Word History

Etymology

after- + life entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterlife was in 1589

Rhymes for afterlife

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Browse Nearby Words

afterings
afterlife
afterlifetime
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Cite this Entry

“Afterlife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterlife. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

afterlife

noun
af·​ter·​life -ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
1
: an existence after death
2
: a later period in one's life

More from Merriam-Webster on afterlife

Nglish: Translation of afterlife for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about afterlife

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