evening

American  

[eev-ning] / ˈiv nɪŋ /

noun

1. the latter part of the day and early part of the night.

   Synonyms:

   nightfall, gloaming, twilight, dusk, eventide

2. the period from sunset to bedtime.

   He spent the evenings reading.

3. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. the time between noon and sunset, including the afternoon and twilight.

4. any concluding or declining period.

   the evening of life.

5. an evening's reception or entertainment.

   Their evenings at home were attended by the socially prominent.

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adjective

1. of or relating to evening.

   The evening sky shone with stars.

2. occurring or seen in the evening.

   the evening mist.

evening British  

/ ˈiːvnɪŋ /

noun

1. the latter part of the day, esp from late afternoon until nightfall

2. the latter or concluding period

   the evening of one's life

3. the early part of the night spent in a specified way

   an evening at the theatre

4. an entertainment, meeting, or reception held in the early part of the night

5. dialect the period between noon and sunset

6. (modifier) of, used, or occurring in the evening

   the evening papers

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evening Idioms  

1. see good day (evening).

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Etymology

Origin of evening

before 1000; Middle English; Old English ǣfnung, equivalent to ǣfn ( ian ) draw toward evening + -ung noun suffix

Explanation

The evening is the last part of the day before night falls, just when the sun is starting to go down. Most people eat dinner in the evening. The quiet, winding-down, ending part of a day is the evening — you might also call it "dusk" or "twilight." Some people define the evening as the time after dinner and before bedtime, and you can also use the word to talk figuratively about the final part of something else: "It was the evening of his life." The Old English root of evening is ǣfnung, "the time around sunset."

Example Sentences

On this particular evening, friends, family and photographers of Davis gather in Milgrom’s cozy gallery, its walls adorned with photographs, nestled together in slick black frames on either side of the room.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

On March 31, the stock completed a bearish evening star that triggered a sharp 14% drawdown before finding support with a bullish hammer on April 17.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

That mission is currently set for Wednesday evening.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

She says she wants people to put down their devices and to feel safe walking outside in the evening.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Not quite dinner, but an hour in which Mrs. Dannenberg would likely have begun preparing for the evening meal.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse