midafternoon

American

[mid-af-ter-noon, -ahf-] / ˈmɪdˌæf tərˈnun, -ˌɑf- /

noun

the part of the afternoon centering approximately on three o'clock; the period approximately halfway between noon and sunset.

adjective

occurring in or pertaining to midafternoon.

a midafternoon nap.

Etymology

Origin of midafternoon

First recorded in 1895–1900; mid- + afternoon

Vocabulary lists containing midafternoon

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: mid-

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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.

See Examples For:

midafternoon

Shares of Amex were down 3.5% in midafternoon trading Friday, more so a reflection of the company’s slight earnings miss than any concerns about revenue growth.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

Dr. Hourani, who now heads Syria’s most important forensic laboratory, still leaves the lab at midafternoon each day for his other job in a private dental clinic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 19, 2025

We reach our first stop, Verdun, France, by midafternoon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025

By midafternoon, it appeared motorists had gotten word of the closure and conditions around San Clemente had eased.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2025

By midafternoon the black Chevrolet had reached Emporia, Kansas—a large town, almost a city, and a safe place, so the occupants of the car had decided, to do a bit of shopping.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023