afterwhile
Later — after a while, when you get around to it.
Also called after while, after a while.
Updated September 21, 2026
afterwhile pronunciation
/AF-ter-wyl/
Meaning
A soft promise of later, not a clock time. Somebody says they'll do a chore afterwhile, and that might mean in ten minutes or after supper. Close cousin to Southern directly (often said dreckly), which can lean the same vague way.
How folks use it
- “I'll get to that woodpile afterwhile.”
- “Come by afterwhile and we'll set a spell.”
Origin and etymology
A spoken blend of "after a while" / "after awhile," common in Southern and Appalachian talk. Smoky Mountain word lists write it as after while. Not a fancy coinage — just the everyday phrase run together until it feels like one word.
Frequently asked questions
Does afterwhile mean soon?
Sometimes. More often it just means later, without pinning down when. Don't set your watch by it.