after-hours

[af-ter-ouuhrz, -ou-erz, ahf-]

adjective

1. occurring, engaged in, or operating after the normal or legal closing time for business.

   an after-hours drinking club.

Word History and Origins

Origin of after-hours¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

After normal working hours, after closing time; also, after legal or established opening hours. For example, I haven't time while the shop is open, but I can see you after hours, or The restaurant employees sometimes stayed for a meal after hours. This term originally referred to laws governing business hours. It also gave rise to the term after-hours club, for a drinking club that remained open later than similar establishments. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Shares of HP were falling 7.4% in after-hours trading following the results.

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Its shares were rising in after-hours trading after the company raised its AI server guidance.

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Fears of an AI bubble continue to swirl, even though Nvidia's results, which showed the chip giant powering on amid robust demand for its AI chips, briefly lifted stocks after-hours on Wednesday and early Thursday.

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Shares of Intuit were up 0.4% in after-hours trading following the results.

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Nvidia climbed 3% before reporting earnings that beat analysts’ expectations, sending shares and index futures on another leg higher in after-hours trading.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• midnight 

When To Use

What does after-hours mean?

After-hours describes something that happens after normal or legal hours of operation for a business or service, as in The after-hours party starts as soon as the bar closes for the night.After-hours can describe something that happens after its normal time, such as a business meeting that takes place after the close of the business day. In the US, many business offices close at 5 pm. A meeting that took place at 7 pm, for example, would be an after-hours meeting.After-hours can also describe something that happens after the allotted time. It’s generally used in situations in which something can be conducted after a business or program has ended and will still be honored. This use is most often used in reference to the stock market and investing, such as in the phrase after-hours trading. The New York Stock Exchange, for example, is only open from 9:30 am to 4 pm, but trading can be conducted at any time of the day.Finally, after-hours can simply describe something that happens late at night. You might find a restaurant that serves an after-hours breakfast, meaning they serve breakfast foods late at night, especially after midnight.Example: Joanie tried after-hours trading but found that she made more money during regular trading hours.