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

"It was bonkers. It was hard to go to the loo," he told BBC 5Live Breakfast, "but it was a good evening."

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025

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

“Hi, everybody,” he typically began his broadcasts, with an unmistakable cheery neighborliness, “and a very pleasant good evening to you wherever you might be.”

From Washington Post • Aug. 3, 2022

The “people” made no move, and finally Will shrugged and said, “Well, good evening to you anyway,” and moved on.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman