afternoon

[af-ter-noon, ahf-, af-ter-noon, ahf-, af-, ahf-] / ˌæf tərˈnun, ˌɑf-, ˈæf tərˈnun, ˈɑf-, ˌæf-, ˌɑf- /

NOUN

period after 12 noon and before sunset

Synonyms

STRONG

siesta teatime

WEAK

P.M. cocktail hour post meridian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Snow sometimes dusts the surrounding slopes, melting by afternoon into damp earth as manzanita and mountain lilac begin to flower.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

However, conditions will turn a little cooler in western Scotland, Northern Ireland and Irish Sea coasts with more cloud and rain moving in later in the afternoon.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Oil prices have surged amid the Iran conflict, with West Texas Intermediate crude trading at more than $112 a barrel on Monday afternoon.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

In afternoon trading, a barrel of the main Brent benchmark was off 0.8 percent at $108.20 with West Texas Intermediate down 1.4 percent at 110.01.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

I followed Lieutenant Rahms into the dazzling early summer afternoon.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom