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

See Examples For:

good evening

As we made our way out, we were bid a good evening — that small but important moment of closure is the final test — with sincerity, not once, not twice, but thrice.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2023

But it doesn’t make you a snob to want more from a novel than you would get from a good evening of Netflix.

From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2023

His injury in the final moments of the game will cause concern for Ecuador boss Gustavo Alfaro but otherwise it was a good evening for his side.

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2022

He opened broadcasts with the familiar greeting, “Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you wherever you may be.”

From Washington Post ● Aug. 2, 2022

“I’d like to very much,” began Milo, “but——” “Or perhaps you’d be interested in a package of ‘goods’—always handy for good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good-by,” he suggested.

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster