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 jumped 4.4% to $108.50 in after-hours trading Thursday, but that is nothing compared with its recent moves.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

RH shares fell in after-hours trading on Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The stock was up fractionally in the after-hours session Monday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Planet Labs shares rose 22% after-hours, contributing to a 524% increase over the past 12 months, driven by higher sales estimates.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

“I didn’t hear about any after-hours visits today.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

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