morning after

noun

, plural mornings after.

1. a period, as in the morning, when the aftereffects of excessive self-indulgence during the previous evening are felt, especially the aftereffects of excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.
2. a moment or period of realization in which the consequences of an earlier ill-advised action are recognized or brought home to one.

Word History and Origins

Origin of morning after¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Imagine the rightful morning-after furor if a racial slight had been broadcast in primetime.

From The Daily Beast

Many experts now say the FDA labels for Plan B and similar morning-after pills are not current with the most recent research.

From The Daily Beast

Morning-after pills, though, are only one part of the debate.

From The Daily Beast

Even if morning-after pills prevented implantation, they would still work as intended: as safe contraception, not abortion pills.

From The Daily Beast

Abortion pills should be available in pharmacies like the morning-after pill.

From The Daily Beast

She was suffering that morning-after sullenness which follows unusual indulgences in virtue as well as other excesses.

From Project Gutenberg

The ache is as near like the morning-after headache as can be.

From Project Gutenberg

A large and varied experience as a servant to young gentlemen had inured him to morning-after repentances.

From Project Gutenberg

To Keegan there was something inexplicable about Basine's morning-after pose.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aftereffect
• headache