on the eve of

Idioms  

1. Just prior to, as in On the eve of the conference the main speaker backed out. This expression uses eve, literally “the night before,” more loosely. [Late 1700s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the eve of

Talks around Anderson's future were ongoing during the World Cup and an agreement was reached between Forest and City on the eve of England's Group L game against Panama.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Rather than playing in a passing tournament on the eve of official practice beginning on Monday, Wixom and his teammates are choosing to do something that will help others.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Concerns grew louder on the eve of the tournament, as thousands of tickets for the U.S. national team’s opening game remained unsold and a referee from Somalia was denied entry over vetting concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Oil, which was $67.02 a barrel on the eve of the war, peaked at $112.95 in April.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Miss Myrt dying practically on the eve of school starting up.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck