Definitions
01time of day
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. the part of the day from 12:00 (noon) until the early evening.
n. the period from noon (12:00) until the beginning of evening — a relational boundary, not a fixed clock time, since "evening" itself depends on culture and season (often 5:00–6:00 PM by social convention).
Español:tarde
“We spent the whole afternoon walking through the park and talking.”
“The heavy rain persisted throughout the afternoon, forcing the organisers to relocate the outdoor ceremony to the main hall.”
Pitfall
I will see you on the afternoon.
I will see you in the afternoon.
Use the preposition 'in' with 'afternoon' when referring to the time of day.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02later stage
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the later part of something, like a person's life or a long event.
n. the final or declining stage of a period of time, a career, or a lifespan.
“In the afternoon of his life, the old man enjoyed sitting in his garden.”
“The empire entered its long afternoon, characterized by a slow decay of its once-mighty institutions and a loss of territorial control.”
03social event
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. a party or meeting that happens during the afternoon.
n. a social gathering or formal event scheduled during the afternoon hours.
“The local club is hosting a musical afternoon for the neighborhood families.”
“The charity organized a literary afternoon, featuring readings from local poets and a silent auction to raise funds for the library.”
Etymology
From Middle English afternone, after-non, equivalent to after- + noon.
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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/afternoon
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0