afternoon

[ noun af-ter-noon, ahf-; adjective af-ter-noon, ahf-, af-, ahf- ]

noun

1. the time from noon until evening.
2. the latter part:

   the afternoon of life.

adjective

1. pertaining to the latter part of the day.

afternoon

/ ˌɑːftəˈnuːn /

noun

1. 1. the period of the day between noon and evening
   2. ( as modifier )

      afternoon tea

2. a middle or later part

   the afternoon of life

Other Words From

• preaf·ter·noon noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afternoon¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; after, noon

Example Sentences

Detectives with a fugitive task force caught up with Polanco and a friend on a Bronx street in the early afternoon.

From The Daily Beast

As of this afternoon, gay Floridians can get married in Dade County.

From The Daily Beast

In the mid-afternoon, Ramos and Liu were parked on Tomkins Avenue on a meal break.

From The Daily Beast

In the afternoon, at the hour of the shooting the day before, Bratton came to the scene with white flowers.

From The Daily Beast

And it was sad, very sad, to be with Mister Ham Wednesday afternoon.

From The Daily Beast

The afternoon was a lovely one—the day was a perfect example of the mellowest mood of autumn.

From Project Gutenberg

All the operations of her brain related themselves somehow to to-morrow afternoon.

From Project Gutenberg

Heavy firing continued all that afternoon, inflicting great loss on the rebels, whilst the Spaniards lost one soldier.

From Project Gutenberg

On the next afternoon, at a quarter-past two, Hilda and Janet were sitting together in the breakfast-room.

From Project Gutenberg

Along in the afternoon Porter's force was located near Moore's Mill, about four miles distant.

From Project Gutenberg