What does "evening" mean?
The time of day between afternoon and night.
Evening
/ˈiːvnɪŋ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The time of day between afternoon and night.
- Grammar: evening is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: eve, even, eventide, night.
- Useful contrasts: aurorean, matutinal, romanian auroră.
- Usage evidence: I usually take a shower in the evening.
How to use "evening"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "evening" 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 "evening" 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 "evening" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "evening" 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 "evening" is acting as noun, verb 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 "eve" 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 "evening", 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 time of day between afternoon and night. countable, uncountable
"Toward evening, there was heavy rain."
- 2 a conventional expression of greeting or farewell, used to wish someone a good evening wordnet
- 3 The time of the day between the approximate time of midwinter dusk and midnight (compare afternoon); the period after the end of regular office working hours. countable, uncountable
"At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.[…] In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass."
- 4 the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall) wordnet
- 5 A concluding time period; a point in time near the end of something; the beginning of the end of something. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"It was the evening of the Roman Empire."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 the early part of night (from dinner until bedtime) spent in a special way wordnet
- 7 A party or gathering held in the evening. countable, uncountable
"A few Gorllewin Cymru/West Wales Branch members attended an evening at the Dragon Hotel, Swansea, titled Photographic Techniques in Industry."
- 8 a later concluding time period wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of even form-of, gerund, participle, present
- 2 present participle and gerund of evene form-of, gerund, participle, present
Example
"I usually take a shower in the evening."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "evening"?
Common synonyms include: eve, even, eventide, night, accommodation, adjustment.
How do you use "evening" in a sentence?
I usually take a shower in the evening.
How do you pronounce "evening"?
Pronounced /ˈiːvnɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English evening, evenyng, from Old English ǣfnung, from ǣfnian < ǣfen (from Proto-West Germanic *ābanþ, from Proto-Germanic *ēbanþs), corresponding to even + -ing.
Etymology 2
Inflected forms.