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Afternoon

/ˌæftərˈnun/

nounA1

Definition

Afternoon means the part of the day after midday (12:00 PM) and before evening. It is the time when the sun is usually high or starting to go down, and people often have lunch or do activities after morning work or school.

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⚡ See It in Action

The time period after 12:00 PM and before evening

  • •We will meet in the afternoon at 3 o’clock.
  • •I like to take a walk in the afternoon when the weather is nice.
  • •The afternoon is a good time for a nap or a break.

🧲 Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "afternoon" like "day" but a smaller part after "morning"
  • ✓Picture the sun high in the sky, shining bright but starting to move down slowly
  • ✓It's the feeling of being awake after lunch, ready to finish your work or relax
  • ✓Sounds like "after noon" → imagine the time right after the clock shows 12:00 noon
  • ✓Think of a warm sunny day when children play outside after school in the afternoon
  • ✓NOT like "morning" (early part of the day), afternoon is later when people eat lunch or rest
  • ✓NOT like "evening" (darker time when sun sets), afternoon is still bright and active
  • ✓Afternoon is the middle part of the day between morning and evening

🔄 Try Other Words

  • •Midday: the exact middle of the day, around 12:00 PM (Use when you mean the specific time of 12 noon)
  • •Early afternoon: the first part of the afternoon, just after 12:00 PM (Use when you want to be more specific about time)
  • •Late afternoon: the part of the afternoon closer to evening (Use when talking about time near 5 or 6 PM)

🔍 Unboxing

  • •Word parts: "after" + "noon" → meaning the time after noon (12:00 PM)
  • •Etymology: from Old English "æfter" (after) + "non" (noon), meaning the time after midday
  • •Historical development: Used since Middle English to describe the time after the sun passes its highest point
  • •Modern usage: Commonly used to talk about time in daily life, school, work, and social activities

💭 Reflect & Connect

•How do your daily activities change from morning to afternoon?
•What makes the afternoon different from other parts of the day in your culture?

Fill in the blanks with the correct word:

1.We usually eat lunch just before the ___ starts.
2.The sun is highest in the sky during the ___, so it is often warm.
3.After finishing morning work, many people feel more relaxed in the ___.
4.The meeting is scheduled for the ___, so it will be after 12:00 PM.
5.Children often play outside in the ___ after school.
6.Unlike morning, the ___ is usually warmer and brighter.
7.If you want to rest after lunch, the ___ is a good time to take a nap.