afternoon

The word “afternoon” means the part of the day between noon and evening. In plain terms, roughly midday to early evening.

“Afternoon” is pronounced ahf-tuh-NOON (/ˌæf.tɚˈnun/ in IPA).

Here is “afternoon” used in a sentence: “We're meeting for coffee this afternoon.”

Words with a similar meaning to “afternoon” include arvo, aft, undern and undertime.

The opposite of “afternoon” — its antonyms — is morning.

“Afternoon” is a noun.

The word “afternoon” comes from Middle English. From Middle English after-non — literally "after noon.".

“Afternoon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

The afternoon runs from noon (12 p.m.) until the evening begins, usually around 5 or 6 p.m., when the light starts to fade. There is no exact cut-off, and it can shift with the seasons and daylight. Anything before midday is morning; the hours after sunset are evening and then night.

The afternoon is the earlier stretch, running from midday until roughly 5 or 6 p.m. The evening follows it, covering the hours from late afternoon through sunset until night. The exact boundary is loose and varies by season and habit, but afternoon is associated with daylight while evening leads into dusk and darkness.

"Good afternoon" is a polite greeting used between noon and early evening, sitting between "good morning" and "good evening." It works as both a hello and, in more formal settings, a goodbye. Using the right time-of-day greeting is a small courtesy that signals attentiveness and good manners.