cocktail hour

American  

noun

1. the interval before the evening meal during which cocktails and other alcoholic beverages are often served.

---

Etymology

Origin of cocktail hour

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

To kill some time before cocktail hour, I visited the free Richelieu Library, where I joined other tourists peering into the Labrouste Room, canopied with a Byzantine-inspired nine-dome ceiling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

I arrived at Gustavino’s, the tony East Side venue, midway through the 6 p.m. cocktail hour.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2025

The idea that these corporations place profit above health is not just a cocktail hour talking point gleaned from some book review – it is deeply ingrained in the community’s memory.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2024

That color temperature is great when you’re making breakfast, but may not be ideal if you want warmer, dimmer light for cocktail hour.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2024

At seven o’clock on a cool November night, guests will arrive at the Robert E. Lee Hotel bar for the cocktail hour.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett