Word
afterglow
Phoneticsaf·ter·glow, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæftɝˌɡɫoʊ/
UK/ˈɑːftəɡlˌəʊ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. soft light left in the sky after the sun goes down. You also use it for the warm, happy feeling that stays with you after a good moment.
n. residual light in the sky after sunset, caused by scattered sunlight in the upper atmosphere; by extension, a lingering sense of pleasure or warmth following a positive experience.
Examples
“We watch the soft afterglow after sunset.”
“They sit on the porch and watch the pink afterglow fade over the hills.”
“Long after the wedding ended, the couple lived in the quiet afterglow of music, speeches, and friends gathered in one room.”
Examples
simple
“We watch the soft afterglow after sunset.”
contextual
“They sit on the porch and watch the pink afterglow fade over the hills.”
complex
“Long after the wedding ended, the couple lived in the quiet afterglow of music, speeches, and friends gathered in one room.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “afterglow” in context.
Verb
01. afterglow fades
“The afterglow fades slowly as night falls over the valley.”
noun + verb
02. afterglow lingers
“The afterglow lingers long after the wedding day ends.”
noun + verb
03. afterglow remains
“A happy afterglow remains after our weekend in the mountains.”
noun + verb
04. bask in afterglow
“The champions are still basking in afterglow of their big win.”
verb + prep + noun
05. capture afterglow
“She took a photo to capture afterglow over the lake.”
verb + noun
06. enjoy afterglow
“They stayed on the terrace to enjoy afterglow of the sunset.”
verb + noun
Noun
07. afterglow of love
“They were wrapped in the warm afterglow of love.”
noun + prep + noun
08. afterglow of sunset
“The afterglow of sunset painted the clouds bright pink.”
noun + prep + noun
09. afterglow of victory
“He was still enjoying the afterglow of victory days later.”
noun + prep + noun
10. bask in the afterglow
“The winners basked in the afterglow for weeks after the final.”
11. bathed in golden afterglow
“The hills were bathed in golden afterglow at dusk.”
12. enjoy the afterglow of success
“We stayed late to enjoy the afterglow of success together.”
Real-World Examples
“SOCHI, Russia - Canada and Germany add to their gold medal hauls at the Winter Olympics, while Russia basks in the afterglow of its first title of the Games after the team figure skating victory captivates the host nation.” Etymology
From after- + glow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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