Afterwards means at a later time, once the thing before has finished. First that, then this.
It usually sits at the start or the end of a clause, and it always refers back to something already mentioned. British English adds the s and American English usually writes afterward, and both are correct. It differs from later, which can float free, since afterwards needs a preceding event. Soon afterwards and shortly afterwards are the common intensified forms.
1adverbafterwardsAt a later time, following something already mentioned.
“We had dinner and went for a walk afterwards.”
Also accepted in games: afterward
Afterwards is afterward with an old genitive s on the end, the same ending that gives towards. Old English æfteweard meant nothing more complicated than behind.
Old English
æfteweard — behind
Middle English
afterwardes
English, today
afterwards
Built from
From Middle English afterwardes, from Old English æfteweard (“behind”) + -s (“(adverbial genitive)”). by surface analysis, after + -wards.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA