subsequently
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈʌbsɪkwəntli/
US
- /ˈsəbsəkwəntli/
Description
- after that
- later on
- afterward
- as a result
Imagine building with LEGO bricks. You carefully connect one brick, and then, *subsequently*, you add another, building on the first. "Subsequently" means happening after something else. It is a more formal way to say "later" or "afterward." People often use it when telling events in order, especially when one thing happens and another follows. A detective might say, "The suspect fled the scene and was subsequently apprehended by the police." Or you might study hard for an exam and subsequently receive a good grade.
"Subsequently" is an adverb that means happening after something else. It shows that one event came later in a sequence. It is more formal than saying "then" or "afterward," and it often suggests that the later event followed from the earlier one. Think of it as a way to show a timeline unfolding, sometimes with a sense of cause and effect.
You'll often find "subsequently" in historical accounts, legal writing, news reports, or formal explanations where the order of events matters. For example: "The company announced record profits and subsequently invested heavily in research and development." This suggests that the profits came first and the investment followed.
The word does not always mean a long time passed. The second event may happen soon after the first one or much later; the main point is simply the order. Still, because "subsequently" sounds formal, it is more common in careful writing than in everyday talk. You could say, "The treaty was signed in 1945 and subsequently led to decades of peace."
While it can often be replaced with simpler words like "afterward" or "later," "subsequently" adds formality and puts extra focus on how events unfolded. It helps tell a story clearly, showing not just what happened, but the order in which things happened.
Examples
- 1
Life change
She moved to Madrid in 2021 and subsequently started her own business there.
- 2
Workplace safety
The company was warned about the safety problem and subsequently changed its procedures.
- 3
Sports injury
He injured his ankle in training and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season.
Phrase
be ruled out
be officially said to be unable to take part
- 4
Interview process
The first interview went well. Subsequently, she was invited back for a second round.
- 5
Legal status
Two men were arrested and subsequently released without charge.
Domain
in law, without charge
without being formally accused of a crime
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- subsequentlyadverb