WordGarden.ioevening
A1Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈivnɪŋ/
Meanings
Noun
the later part of the day, after afternoon and before night
a social or entertainment occasion held in the evening
Adjective
happening in, used in, or intended for the evening
Verb
making something more level, equal, or balanced
Beyond the definition
The evening is the part of the day that comes after the afternoon and before night. It often begins around sunset, but in daily use it usually means the later part of the day when work or school is ending and people are starting to slow down. It is a common time for dinner, rest, social plans, or going out.
You might spend the evening reading a book, meeting friends, watching a film, or staying home to relax. The word can also describe something planned for that time, like an evening class, an evening meal, or an evening event. It often suggests a calmer part of the day, but the main idea is simply the time between afternoon and night.
The word "evening" describes the part of the day that comes after the afternoon and before night. In real use, it usually refers to the hours near and after sunset, though the exact time can change with the season, the place, and the speaker's habits. People often think of it as the time when daytime activity starts to fade and the quieter part of the day begins.
In everyday English, "evening" is used in many common situations. You can say, "I'll see you this evening," "We had dinner in the evening," or "She takes an evening class." It often refers to a time for meals, rest, entertainment, social visits, or events that happen after the main work of the day. Because of that, it can sound warm, calm, social, or sometimes a little formal, depending on the context.
The word is also used before other nouns to show that something happens at that time, as in "evening news," "evening wear," or "evening service." In some cases, it points to a special social setting, such as "an evening with friends" or "a charity evening." In other cases, it is completely ordinary and simply marks time.
There is also a simple greeting, "Good evening," which people use when meeting someone during this part of the day. This shows that the word is not only a time label but also part of everyday social language.
So the word can describe a period of time, the setting for an activity, or the general feel of the later day. Most often, it means the stretch between afternoon and night, when people finish what they were doing and move into dinner, rest, or plans for the hours ahead.
Examples
- 1
Daily routine
We usually eat dinner together in the evening.
- 2
Plans
Are you doing anything this evening?
- 3
Cooler weather
It gets much cooler here in the evening, so people sit outside after work.
- 4
Regular habit
She spends most evenings reading or talking to her sister.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Adult learning
He takes an evening class in Spanish twice a week.
- Phraseevening class
a class held later in the day, often after work
- 6
Time point
By evening, the beach was almost empty.
- Phraseby evening
before or when evening arrives
- 7
Whole duration
I was tired because the meeting went on all evening.
- Phraseall evening
for the whole evening
- 8
Polite greeting
“Good evening, everyone,” the host said as the guests arrived.
- Phrasegood evening
a polite greeting used in the evening
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- eveningnounverb
Forms
- eveningspluralnounverb