afterglow

[ af-ter-gloh, ahf- ]

/ ˈæf tərˌgloʊ, ˈɑf- /

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See synonyms for afterglow on Thesaurus.com

noun

the glow frequently seen in the sky after sunset; afterlight.

a second or secondary glow, as in heated metal before it ceases to become incandescent.

the pleasant remembrance of a past experience, glory, etc.: She basked in the afterglow of her stage triumph.

phosphorescence (def. 3).

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Origin of afterglow

First recorded in 1870–75; after + glow

Words nearby afterglow

aftercooler, afterdamp, afterdeck, after-dinner, aftereffect, afterglow, aftergrowth, afterguard, afterhearing, afterheat, after-hours

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use afterglow in a sentence

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.”
Lessons for a Young Scientist - Issue 112: Inspiration|Martin Rees|January 12, 2022|Nautilus
You can run your ass off and savor the adrenaline-soaked afterglow until long into the night.
A New Year’s Race Will Cure Your Seasonal Malaise|mmirhashem|December 23, 2021|Outside Online
Even in the afterglow of arguably his biggest win as Georgetown’s head coach, Patrick Ewing couldn’t completely enjoy the moment.
Patrick Ewing on treatment at MSG: ‘Everybody in this building should know who the hell I am’|Des Bieler|March 12, 2021|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.
Will Major Marathons Actually Come Back This Fall?|Martin Fritz Huber|February 4, 2021|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.
The absurd, sadistic joy of The Flight Attendant|Alex Abad-Santos|December 18, 2020|Vox
But he sorted that out, and for the rest of his long life, basked in the afterglow of the Kennedy White House.
The Man with the President’s Ear, Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and JFK|Ted Widmer|October 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Popped-cherry experiences were ranked in terms of "anxiety," "negativity," "connection," and even "afterglow."
6 New Ways to Be Happy (If You Believe the Studies)|Rachel Krantz|February 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If Anger Management is about the afterglow, Louie is about self-loathing.
Charlie Sheen’s ‘Anger Management’ & Louis C.K.’s ‘Louie’: Comedy Clash|Jace Lacob|June 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The speech brought the audience to its feet, but Romney enjoyed only a dim afterglow.
8 Highlights From the New Biography ‘The Real Romney’||January 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the twilight afterglow, talk of a new march on Wall Street swept the crowd.
The Battle For Wall Street|John Avlon|October 14, 2011|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.
The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley|Bertram Mitford
In the long afterglow of the July sunset they enamelled the barren heights with a rich, yellowish green.
Flamsted quarries|Mary E. Waller
She wanted to see the full glory of the afterglow upon her profile, upon her neck, and bosom.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady|Lucas Malet
It was the softest of spring nights with a faint afterglow in the sky and a rising moon when they set out.
The Four Corners Abroad|Amy Ella Blanchard
Bare-headed, slender, with his air of eternal youth, he was silhouetted against the rose red of the afterglow.
The Gay Cockade|Temple Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for afterglow

afterglow

/ (ˈɑːftəˌɡləʊ) /

noun

the glow left after a light has disappeared, such as that sometimes seen after sunset

the glow of an incandescent metal after the source of heat has been removed

physics luminescence persisting on the screen of a cathode-ray tube or in a gas-discharge tube after the power supply has been disconnected

a trace, impression, etc, of past emotion, brilliance, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

afterglow

Origin of afterglow

Words nearby afterglow

Words related to afterglow

How to use afterglow in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for afterglow