What does "afternoon" mean?
The part of the day from noon or lunchtime until sunset, evening, or suppertime or 6pm.
Afternoon
/ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/ adv, intj, noun, slang
adv, intj, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The part of the day from noon or lunchtime until sunset, evening, or suppertime or 6pm.
- Grammar: afternoon is listed as adv, intj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: aft, afternoon shift, afternoonlike, arvo.
- Useful contrasts: the evening, early life stage, evening.
- Usage evidence: I spent the whole afternoon chatting with friends.
How to use "afternoon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "afternoon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "afternoon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "afternoon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "afternoon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "afternoon" is acting as adv, intj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aft" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "afternoon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The part of the day from noon or lunchtime until sunset, evening, or suppertime or 6pm.
"Theſe men ſerue God in the forenoone, and the diuell in the after noone;"
- 2 a conventional expression of greeting or farewell, used to wish someone a good afternoon wordnet
- 3 The later part of anything, often with implications of decline. figuratively
"Buck.[…]Theſe both put by a poore petitioner A care-crazd mother of a many children, A beauty-waining and diſtreſſed widow, Euen in the afternoone of her beſt daies Made priſe and purchaſe of his luſtfull eye, Seduc t the pitch and height of al his thoughts, To baſe declenſion and loathd bigamie, By her in his vnlawfull bed he got."
- 4 the part of the day between noon and evening wordnet
- 5 A party or social event held in the afternoon. informal
Adverb
- 1 In the afternoon. archaic, not-comparable, singular
"I stayd at home till noone, and recᵈ of Crowders for 3 loods of shilling 2l. 8s.; and afternoone I went with my wife to Wakefeild, where by yᵉ way I spent at Toppitt 8d., and wee lay at Jackson’s all night."
Intj
- 1 Ellipsis of good afternoon. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I spent the whole afternoon chatting with friends."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "afternoon"?
Common synonyms include: aft, afternoon shift, afternoonlike, arvo, evening, foreday.
How do you use "afternoon" in a sentence?
I spent the whole afternoon chatting with friends.
How do you pronounce "afternoon"?
Pronounced /ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/.
Etymology
From Middle English afternone, after-non, equivalent to after- + noon.