evening
evening
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "evening" is /ˈiːvnɪŋ/.
First Syllable: /ˈiːv/
/iː/: as in "see"
/v/: as in "van"
Second Syllable: /nɪŋ/
/n/: as in "night"
/ɪ/: as in "kit"
/ŋ/: as in "sing"
Word Form Variations
Noun: evening (singular), evenings (plural)
Adjective: evening (attributive, e.g., "evening gown")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The period of time toward the end of the day, typically from late afternoon until night, when the sun has set or is setting.
Synonyms: dusk, twilight, eventide, nightfall, sundown
Antonyms: morning, dawn, daybreak, sunrise
Definition 2: A social gathering or event that takes place during the evening hours.
Synonyms: soiree, party, reception, gathering, get-together
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific event time, but generally "daytime event" or "morning gathering" could be used to contrast.)
Adjective
Definition: Of or relating to the evening; occurring in the evening.
Synonyms: nocturnal, crepuscular (more specific to twilight)
Antonyms: morning, diurnal
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy evening..." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford) - This classic opening line from a novel exemplifies the use of "evening" to set a scene and time.
"Every evening, the old woman sat by the window, watching the world go by." (Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude) - This use highlights a routine activity taking place during the evening.
Newspapers:
"The city council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the new zoning regulations." ( The New York Times, 2025) - Here, "evening" specifies the time of an official event.
"Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run incident occurred on Main Street last evening." ( The Guardian, 2025) - "Last evening" is a common way to refer to the previous day's evening.
Online Publications:
"Join us for a virtual author Q&A this evening at 7 PM EST." ( Literary Hub, 2025) - "This evening" indicates an upcoming event.
"Our guide to the best restaurants for a romantic evening in Paris." ( Conde Nast Traveler online, 2025) - "Evening" is used here as an adjective to describe the type of experience.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 97th Academy Awards!" (Opening speech at the Academy Awards ceremony, typically broadcast in the evening) - This is a common salutation for an evening event.
Television Series: "We'll continue our investigation first thing in the morning. Get some rest. Good evening, Detective." (Law & Order: SVU, typically spoken at the end of a scene as characters part ways for the night) - "Good evening" functions as a formal farewell.
Music/Song Lyrics: "Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world / She took the midnight train going anywhere / Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit / He took the midnight train going anywhere / A singer in a smoky room / The smell of wine and cheap perfume / For a smile they can share the night / It goes on and on and on and on / Strangers waiting / Up and down the boulevard / Their shadows searching in the night / Streetlight people, living just to find emotion / Hiding somewhere in the night / Don't stop believin' / Hold on to that feeling / Streetlight people, oh-oh-oh / Don't stop believin' / Hold on / Streetlight people, oh-oh-oh / Don't stop believin' / Hold on to that feeling / Streetlight people, oh-oh-oh" (Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'") - While "evening" isn't explicitly stated, the imagery of "midnight train," "smoky room," and "streetlight people" evokes the late evening/night. This implicitly points to the setting of an evening.
Podcasts: "In this evening's episode, we delve into the mysteries of ancient civilizations." (The History Channel Podcast, June 1, 2025) - "This evening's" indicates the content for a specific broadcast.
Social Media (e.g., X/Twitter post): "Just finished a fantastic workout! What's everyone doing this evening?" (@FitnessFanatic, June 29, 2025) - A casual use to engage with followers about their evening plans.
General Public Discourse:
"Have a good evening!" (Common farewell between colleagues leaving work) - A standard polite phrase.
"I'm going out for dinner this evening." (Spoken conversation between friends) - Indicates a planned activity for the evening.
"The concert starts at 7 o'clock in the evening." (Public announcement or conversation about an event) - Specifies the time of an event.
10 Famous Quotes Using Evening
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, / That I shall say good night till it be morrow." (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet) - While not explicitly "evening," "good night" is intrinsically tied to the transition from evening to night.
"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter what it is." (Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer) - This quote focuses on destiny and the journey of life, often associated with the progression from morning to evening, symbolizing the day's events leading to a conclusion.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities) - This passage evokes the contrast of day and night, where "darkness" and "Light" can be seen as metaphorical for evening and morning.
"The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose." (Ecclesiastes 1:5, King James Bible) - This describes the daily cycle, encompassing the evening as the sun sets.
"Dusk is just an illusion because the sun is always on its way to rise." (Unknown) - This quote directly references "dusk," a synonym for evening, and speaks to the continuous cycle.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan) - Looking at stars implies an evening or night setting.
"To err is human; to forgive, divine." (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism) - This quote, while not directly using "evening," is often associated with reflections that might occur at the end of the day or in the "evening" of one's life.
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more. It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth) - This speaks to the brevity of life, which can be seen as moving from "morning" to "evening" in its progression.
"The darkest hour is just before the dawn." (Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia) - This refers to the period just before morning, which is the very late part of the evening or night.
"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - This quote highlights the end of the day, the evening, as a prelude to a new beginning.
Etymology
The word "evening" has a fascinating history that goes back to the very roots of the English language.
Imagine the Old English period, long before Shakespeare. The word "evening" comes from an Old English word called "ǣfnung". This word literally meant "the coming of evening," "sunset," or "the time around sunset." It was like saying "the becoming of night."
"ǣfnung" itself came from an even older word, "æfnian", which was a verb meaning "to become evening" or "to grow toward evening." Think of it as describing the process of the day changing into night.
And going back further, "æfnian" came from "æfen," which simply meant "evening" or "the time between sunset and darkness." This "æfen" is also the ancestor of the modern word "eve," as in "Christmas Eve."
So, in simple terms, the word "evening" started as a way to describe the process of the day turning into night, and then it became the name for that time itself. The "-ing" at the end of "evening" is similar to how we use "-ing" in words like "coming" or "going," indicating a process.
The first known uses of "evening" (or its Old English forms) referred to this period of time when the sun was setting and it was getting dark, usually from late afternoon until night. It was used to mark that specific part of the day.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Evening
Good evening: A formal greeting used when meeting someone in the evening.
Evening out: To go out for entertainment or a social event in the evening.
An evening dress/gown: Formal attire worn by women for evening events.
The evening news: A television or radio news broadcast typically aired in the early evening.
Evening wear: Clothes suitable for formal or semi-formal events held in the evening.
From morning to evening: Throughout the entire day.
In the evening of one's life: In the later years of a person's life, especially old age.
Every evening: Happening regularly each evening.
Evening star: A bright planet (often Venus) seen in the western sky just after sunset.
Evening primrose: A flower that typically opens its petals in the evening.
A quiet evening in: Spending the evening at home, often relaxing.
The wee hours of the evening: A less common but understandable phrase referring to the very early part of the evening, or sometimes late into the night.
As the evening draws in: As the sun sets and darkness approaches.
To call it an evening: To end an activity, work, or social gathering for the day/night. (Synonym for "to call it a night")
Dusk till dawn: From sunset until sunrise, encompassing the entire night. (Uses a synonym for evening)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of evening from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
