AFTERTHOUGHT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does afterthought mean? 

• AFTERTHOUGHT (noun)
  The noun AFTERTHOUGHT has 2 senses:

1. thinking again about a choice previously made

2. an addition that was not included in the original plan

  Familiarity information: AFTERTHOUGHT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AFTERTHOUGHT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Thinking again about a choice previously made

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

afterthought; reconsideration; rethink; second thought

Context example:

he had second thoughts about his purchase

Hypernyms ("afterthought" is a kind of...):

change of mind; flip-flop; reversal; turnabout; turnaround (a decision to reverse an earlier decision)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An addition that was not included in the original plan

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the garage was an afterthought

Hypernyms ("afterthought" is a kind of...):

add-on; addition; improver (a component that is added to something to improve it)

 Context examples 

Four dollars right there for a few afterthoughts on the way to bed.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Or dying,” was her afterthought when she had waited some time for me to speak.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Years don't tell much in our firm, Master Copperfield, except in raising up the umble, namely, mother and self—and in developing, he added, as an afterthought, the beautiful, namely, Miss Agnes.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Yes—" he began; but she interrupted with an afterthought:-

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)