good evening

American  

interjection

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

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good evening British  

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

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good evening Idioms  

1. see under good day.

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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

"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

On the 13th hour of the third day of a two-country trip, President Biden stepped onstage at a news conference in Vietnam and bid reporters there a good evening.

From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2023

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

He opened broadcasts with the familiar greeting, “Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you wherever you may be.”

From Washington Post • Aug. 2, 2022

Eventually Madame Manec comes through the kitchen door and locks it behind her and Etienne says good evening rather coldly and after a moment Madame Manec says it back.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr