afternoon

noun

af·​ter·​noon ˌaf-tər-ˈnün 

1

: the part of day between noon and sunset

2

: a relatively late period (as of time or life)

in the afternoon of the 19th century

afternoon adjective

Synonyms of afternoon

• evening
• age
• autumn
• twilight

Examples of afternoon in a Sentence

morning, afternoon, evening, and night

I'll see you again tomorrow afternoon.

It was early afternoon when I left.

She spent the afternoon at the library.

I remember the many rainy afternoons I spent reading at the library.

She doesn't have class on Friday afternoons.

It took us all afternoon to get there.

It's going to be a long afternoon listening to lectures.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the afternoon, book a spot at one of Copenhagen’s many hot tub experiences; some favorites include Hottub Copenhagen and CopenHot, the biggest outdoor spa in Denmark. — Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

In between those performances, Japanese folk dancers, a local DJ and rappers, and a 10-piece band will entertain attendees in the afternoon and evening. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Outside the path of totality, a deep partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe shortly before sunset, while northeastern North America sees a shallow partial eclipse during the afternoon. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

While most of Saturday should see play continue, there may be a delay on Sunday before play can resume in the afternoon. — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afternone, from after- after- + none noon

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing afternoon

• good afternoon
• make a day/night/morning/afternoon/evening of it
• the other day/night/morning/afternoon/evening
• this afternoon

Rhymes for afternoon

• forenoon
• honeymoon
• importune
• laocoon
• opportune
• pantaloon
• picayune
• tablespoon
• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon

Kids Definition

afternoon

noun

af·​ter·​noon ˌaf-tər-ˈnün 

: the part of day between noon and sunset

afternoon adjective