afternoon
- 01 A1 Beginner
the part of the day from 12:00 (noon) until the early evening.
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).
Simple“We spent the whole afternoon walking through the park and talking.”
In context“The heavy rain persisted throughout the afternoon, forcing the organisers to relocate the outdoor ceremony to the main hall.”
PitfallI 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.
- 02 C1 Advanced
the later part of something, like a person's life or a long event.
the final or declining stage of a period of time, a career, or a lifespan.
Simple“In the afternoon of his life, the old man enjoyed sitting in his garden.”
In context“The empire entered its long afternoon, characterized by a slow decay of its once-mighty institutions and a loss of territorial control.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a party or meeting that happens during the afternoon.
a social gathering or formal event scheduled during the afternoon hours.
Simple“The local club is hosting a musical afternoon for the neighborhood families.”
In context“The charity organized a literary afternoon, featuring readings from local poets and a silent auction to raise funds for the library.”
From Middle English afternone, after-non, equivalent to after- + noon.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.