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

He has quit jobs in the middle of runs to the postseason and on the eve of national championship games.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping probably doesn’t want a crisis on the eve of his September trip to Washington, but you never know.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Speaking on the eve of the championships, she welcomed the strong competition and said achieving gold on British soil would mean as much as her Olympic triumph.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Now, on the eve of what would have been Hussle’s 41st birthday, the rappers are set to release their second collaborative project, an album titled “Prolific.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

This was Chicago, on the eve of the greatest fair in history.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson