good evening

American  

interjection

1. a conventional expression used at meeting or parting in the evening.

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good evening British  

1. a conventional expression of greeting or farewell used in the evening

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good evening Idioms  

1. see under good day.

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Etymology

Origin of good evening

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does good-evening compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• good afternoon vs. good evening

Example Sentences

A transcript of President Biden’s State of the Union address on March 7, 2024, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House: Good evening.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2024

It was replaced with a greeting saying, "Good evening, dreamers of all ages!"

From Fox News • Mar. 30, 2022

Good evening to all of our readers in the Americas, and a good early morning to those watching out of curiosity in Europe.

From The Guardian • Nov. 12, 2021

Sir Billy said that on his last tour he used to say to the audience: "Good evening symptom spotters. I would show them symptoms and it would work really well."

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2021

Now, as he gets closer, we hear him singing: "Where will the wedding supper be? Way down yonder in a hollow tree. Uh hmmm ..." Good evening, Miz Clara.

From "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson