good evening

American  

interjection

1. a conventional expression used at meeting or parting in the evening.

---

good evening British  

1. a conventional expression of greeting or farewell used in the evening

---

good evening Idioms  

1. see under good day.

---

Etymology

Origin of good evening

First recorded in 1860–65

---

Compare meaning

How does good-evening compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• good afternoon vs. good evening

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

good evening

"I always saw him in black, looking very serious and hunched over. He wouldn't say good morning or good evening."

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

"It was bonkers. It was hard to go to the loo," he told BBC 5Live Breakfast, "but it was a good evening."

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025

As we made our way out, we were bid a good evening — that small but important moment of closure is the final test — with sincerity, not once, not twice, but thrice.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2023

But it doesn’t make you a snob to want more from a novel than you would get from a good evening of Netflix.

From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2023

“Ah, good evening Harry,” said Dumbledore, looking up at him through his half-moon glasses with a most satisfied expression.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---