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Meaning & use

after business hours

phrase·Everyday

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UK/ˌɑːftə ˈbɪznəs aʊəz/
US/ˌæftər ˈbɪznəs aʊərz/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Outside the normal opening hours of a business or office.

    Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase, often after verbs like call or open, or after the preposition 'be'.

    Patterns

    • call after business hours
    • open after business hours
    • available after business hours

    Please call me after business hours if you need to discuss this privately.

    The office is closed, but you can leave a message after business hours.

    We sometimes work after business hours to finish urgent projects.

  2. phrasebefore a noun

    Happening or done outside the usual working time of a company.

    Grammar: Can be used before a noun, as in 'after-business-hours support'.

    Patterns

    • after-business-hours support
    • after-business-hours meeting

    The company offers after-business-hours technical support.

    She attended an after-business-hours meeting with clients from overseas.

Common combinations

call after business hours
You can call after business hours and leave a voicemail.
open after business hours
The clinic is open after business hours on Thursdays.
after-business-hours support
We provide after-business-hours support for urgent issues.

Synonyms and how they differ

after hours
After hours is shorter and more informal; after business hours is more explicit and formal.
outside office hours
Outside office hours is similar but often refers specifically to office workers, not all businesses.

Opposites

during business hours

Commonly confused: after business hours or after-hours?

after business hours vs after-hours

After-hours is an adjective or adverb meaning after normal opening time; after business hours is a longer phrase with the same meaning but often used in business contexts.

Practice

Choose the best completion: The store is closed now, but you can call ______.

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