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 weeks after Vigar’s death, Wingate & Finchley set about demolishing the concrete perimeter wall where the player was left with catastrophic brain injuries on a Saturday afternoon in north London in late September. —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025

McCarty, through a spokesperson, reiterated the departure as a personnel matter on Tuesday afternoon. —Mathew Miranda december 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their home on Sunday afternoon. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Dec. 2025

Inside the Washington Square Bookshop that winter afternoon, Margaret felt sorry for Sumner. —Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025

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
• laocoon
• opportune
• pantaloon
• picayune
• tablespoon
• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon

Kids Definition

afternoon

noun

af·​ter·​noon ˌaf-tər-ˈnün 

: the part of day between noon and sunset

afternoon adjective