Afternoon is the period between noon and evening. The term lacks a precise definition because it was in use long before accurate time-pieces became widespread. Hence, words and phrases that refer to general periods in the day were more practical.
The term should not be confused with "after noon" (two separate words), which is a translation of the Latin post meridiem (p.m.), meaning a time of day between 12:00 midday and 12:00 midnight.
In Australia and New Zealand, "arvo" is slang for afternoon.
Famous quotes containing the word afternoon:
“I don’t like comparisons with football. Baseball is an entirely different game. You can watch a tight, well-played football game, but it isn’t exciting if half the stadium is empty. The violence on the field must bounce off a lot of people. But you can go to a ball park on a quiet Tuesday afternoon with only a few thousand people in the place and thoroughly enjoy a one-sided game. Baseball has an aesthetic, intellectual appeal found in no other team sport.”
—Bowie Kuhn (b. 1926)
“In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
““Courage!” he said, and pointed toward the land,
“This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.”
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)