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Synonyms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Only the event’s stacked red carpet is watchable — the gala’s cocktail hour and dinner are notoriously private events.

From Seattle Times • May 5, 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