Synonyms

after-hours

American

[af-ter-ouuhrz, -ou-erz, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˈaʊərz, -ˈaʊ ərz, ˈɑf- /

adjective

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

an after-hours drinking club.

after hours Idioms

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]

Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of after-hours

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The stock’s after-hours move follows a 61% decline over the past 12 months, as the company deals with greater legal and regulatory scrutiny over the weight-loss drugs sold on its platform.

From MarketWatch

Live Nation Entertainment shares were up by more than 3.5% in after-hours trade.

From BBC

“Judging from the after-hours stock move down, it already has in our view,” he wrote early Wednesday.

From MarketWatch

The media company, which has expanded beyond its core news operation to games, recipes and other digital offerings, rose 3.3% in after-hours trading.

From The Wall Street Journal

Strong demand for artificial intelligence hardware drove Cisco’s results, yet shares fell 5% in after-hours trading.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023