afterglow
Americannoun
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the glow left after a light has disappeared, such as that sometimes seen after sunset
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the glow of an incandescent metal after the source of heat has been removed
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physics luminescence persisting on the screen of a cathode-ray tube or in a gas-discharge tube after the power supply has been disconnected
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a trace, impression, etc, of past emotion, brilliance, etc
Etymology
Origin of afterglow
Explanation
An afterglow is a strip of rose-colored light in the sky that you sometimes see after the sun goes down. You should look for the afterglow after you watch the sunset. While an afterglow is actually caused by dust in the atmosphere, the radiant, glowing effect in the sky is much more beautiful than this makes it sound. You can also use the word afterglow in a figurative way, to describe the way you feel after something really wonderful happens to you: "I basked in the afterglow that followed my successful opening night on Broadway."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Afterglow is also a little bit not what it is supposed to be; it has amused Myles to watch as it is rounded up alongside conventional dog books.
From The Guardian • Feb. 16, 2018
“It gives me a lot of pleasure to see how the landscape changes,” Morris says of the plant palette, which includes Echeveria Afterglow and Gibbiflora, Sticks on Fire, Aloe Brevifolia and Kalancha Thyrsifolia.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2017
Witnessing Lauren's performance on Afterglow "actually made me quite emotional," says Doherty.
From BBC • Sep. 25, 2015
Now, after Blowout Sunday in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks and their fans embraced the best day of all: Afterglow Monday.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 4, 2014
Afterglow, aft′ėr-glō, n. the glow often seen in the sky after sunset.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
