afterglow

[ af-ter-gloh, ahf- ]

noun

1. the glow frequently seen in the sky after sunset; afterlight.
2. a second or secondary glow, as in heated metal before it ceases to become incandescent.
3. the pleasant remembrance of a past experience, glory, etc.:

   She basked in the afterglow of her stage triumph.

4. phosphorescence ( def 3 ).

afterglow

/ ˈɑːftəˌɡləʊ /

noun

1. the glow left after a light has disappeared, such as that sometimes seen after sunset
2. the glow of an incandescent metal after the source of heat has been removed
3. physics luminescence persisting on the screen of a cathode-ray tube or in a gas-discharge tube after the power supply has been disconnected
4. a trace, impression, etc, of past emotion, brilliance, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of afterglow¹

First recorded in 1870–75; after + glow

Example Sentences

That happened in 1965 for Big Bang cosmology, when weak microwaves were discovered which pervaded all of space and had no plausible interpretation other than as an afterglow of a hot, dense “beginning.”

From Nautilus

You can run your ass off and savor the adrenaline-soaked afterglow until long into the night.

From Outside Online

Even in the afterglow of arguably his biggest win as Georgetown’s head coach, Patrick Ewing couldn’t completely enjoy the moment.

From Washington Post

I’ve generally believed that the real “value” of races comes from their afterglow, from the opportunity to one day get to bore your grandchildren with a detailed account of ripping down Boylston in your glorious youth.

From Outside Online

She awakes not in an afterglow of ecstasy and expensive hair products, but in a pool of Alex’s blood and no recollection of anything that happened the night before.

From Vox

But he sorted that out, and for the rest of his long life, basked in the afterglow of the Kennedy White House.

From The Daily Beast

Popped-cherry experiences were ranked in terms of "anxiety," "negativity," "connection," and even "afterglow."

From The Daily Beast

If Anger Management is about the afterglow, Louie is about self-loathing.

From The Daily Beast

The speech brought the audience to its feet, but Romney enjoyed only a dim afterglow.

From The Daily Beast

In the twilight afterglow, talk of a new march on Wall Street swept the crowd.

From The Daily Beast

The sun had gone down, and the afterglow had faded red on the surrounding cliffs, then merged into the pearly grey of twilight.

From Project Gutenberg

In the long afterglow of the July sunset they enamelled the barren heights with a rich, yellowish green.

From Project Gutenberg

She wanted to see the full glory of the afterglow upon her profile, upon her neck, and bosom.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the softest of spring nights with a faint afterglow in the sky and a rising moon when they set out.

From Project Gutenberg

Bare-headed, slender, with his air of eternal youth, he was silhouetted against the rose red of the afterglow.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bloom
• blossom
• brilliance
• glare
• gleam
• glimmer
• glitter
• intensity
• light
• radiance
• ray
• warmth