afternoon

[noun af-ter-noon, ahf-; adjective af-ter-noon, ahf-, af-, ahf-]

See more synonyms for afternoon on Thesaurus.com

noun

the time from noon until evening.
the latter part: the afternoon of life.

adjective

pertaining to the latter part of the day.

Origin of afternoon

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at after, noon

Related formspre·af·ter·noon, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for afternoon

Contemporary Examples

As of this afternoon, gay Floridians can get married in Dade County.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over
Jay Michaelson
January 5, 2015
In the afternoon, at the hour of the shooting the day before, Bratton came to the scene with white flowers.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops
Michael Daly
December 22, 2014
And it was sad, very sad, to be with Mister Ham Wednesday afternoon.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity
Paul Hemphill
December 22, 2014
His success later in the afternoon has staggered a nation and sent two families reeling from heartache that never diminishes.
Any Outrage Out There for Ramos and Liu, Protesters?
Mike Barnicle
December 22, 2014
The bit, in which two chopper-riding mamas host an afternoon talk show, started off well.
The Curious Little Shell That Restarted Jenny Slate’s Career
Luke Hopping
December 15, 2014

Historical Examples

In from the shining sea late that afternoon steamed the Viluca.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
He accepted Percival's invitation that afternoon to go down into the Street with him.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Master Headley himself arrived with Master Hope in the afternoon.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
This afternoon went with Jemmy to the summit of Yeadie, and took a round of angles.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest
We started from Perth on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 30th of March, 1870.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest

British Dictionary definitions for afternoon

afternoon

noun

1. the period of the day between noon and evening
2. (as modifier)afternoon tea
a middle or later partthe afternoon of life

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

Word Origin and History for afternoon

n.

c.1300, from after + noon. In 15c.-16c., the form was at afternoon; from c.1600 it has been in the afternoon. Middle English also had aftermete "afternoon, part of the day following the noon meal," mid-14c.

afternoon

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}afternoon

Examples from the Web for afternoon

Contemporary Examples

As of this afternoon, gay Floridians can get married in Dade County.

In the afternoon, at the hour of the shooting the day before, Bratton came to the scene with white flowers.

And it was sad, very sad, to be with Mister Ham Wednesday afternoon.

His success later in the afternoon has staggered a nation and sent two families reeling from heartache that never diminishes.

The bit, in which two chopper-riding mamas host an afternoon talk show, started off well.

Historical Examples

In from the shining sea late that afternoon steamed the Viluca.

He accepted Percival's invitation that afternoon to go down into the Street with him.

Master Headley himself arrived with Master Hope in the afternoon.

This afternoon went with Jemmy to the summit of Yeadie, and took a round of angles.

We started from Perth on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 30th of March, 1870.

afternoon

Word Origin and History for afternoon

n.

Origin of afternoon