afterglow

noun

af·​ter·​glow ˈaf-tər-ˌglō 

1

: a glow remaining where a light has disappeared

2

: a pleasant effect or feeling that lingers after something is done, experienced, or achieved

basking in the afterglow of success

Examples of afterglow in a Sentence

the afterglow of the sunset

Recent Examples on the Web

Hilltop Hoods‘ tour is over, but the hip-hop artist’s special auction has created a warm afterglow. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026

This is the faint thermal afterglow from some 380,000 years after the big bang that was unleashed when the hot, foglike plasma that filled the early universe cooled and cleared as primordial atomic nuclei bonded with free electrons. —Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026

The Horns were focused but the afterglow of Thursday’s 79-71 first round win over BYU stll hung in the air. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026

Not long afterward, China’s Einstein Probe satellite identified a potential X-ray afterglow from the same region. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

after- + glow entry 2

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for afterglow

• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo
• ceo

Kids Definition

afterglow

noun

af·​ter·​glow -ˌglō 

1

: a glow remaining (as in the sky after sunsets) where a light has disappeared

2

: a pleasant feeling that lingers after something is done, experienced, or achieved

the afterglow of success