late evening

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The last part of the evening, shortly before night or bedtime.

   Grammar: Often used with in or during: in the late evening.

   Patterns

   • in the late evening
   • until late evening

   They arrived home in the late evening.

   The shop stays open until late evening.

   We talked in the garden until late evening.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Happening in the last part of the evening.

   Grammar: Placed before a noun: a late evening walk.

   Patterns

   • a late evening meal

   She took a late evening train.

   We ate a late evening snack.

Common combinations

in the late evening

I usually read in the late evening.

late evening news

He watched the late evening news.

late evening meal

A late evening meal helped them relax.

until late evening

The office was busy until late evening.

late evening walk

They enjoyed a late evening walk.

Synonyms and how they differ

night

Night begins after dark, while late evening comes just before it.

nighttime

Nighttime refers to the whole dark period.

dusk

Dusk is the moment of fading light, not a longer span.

Word family

evening noun

The last part of the day.

late adjective

After the usual time.

Commonly confused: late evening or late afternoon?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “late evening”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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