afternoon time

USAGE SUMMARY

"afternoon time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the late hours of the day from around noon to the evening hours. For example, "I like to spend my afternoon time reading a book in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Both among-basin and between-year comparisons were confounded by diurnal variation and statistical analyses comparing morning, mid-day, and afternoon time periods were unable to definitively discern which time of day was best suited for assessing the relative photophysiological status of T. testudinum.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Sweden's Estelle Alphand posted the fastest afternoon time but was only 26th in the morning, leaving her 16th overall.

Huffington Post

By introducing these modifications 17% of the total workflow was shifted from a night-shift time to an afternoon time, and this contributed greatly to the overall change in average time from gross station to finished slides of 2.9 hours.

BMC Clinical Pathology

Friday afternoon, Time quoted him as saying, "We are Georgians.

The New Yorker

For eight minutes at Shea Stadium yesterday afternoon, time appeared to stand still.

The New York Times - Sports

He later moved back to a more desirable weekday afternoon time.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

This occurs at noon, local time (standard time).

WikiHow

Facebook Twitter Pinterest 3.37pm BST Preamble Morning, afternoon, time-zone appropriate greetings... It's day five of the 2012 US Open, it's coming up to 11am in New York and Britain's Laura Robson is about to face Li Na of China in the third round of the women's singles competition.

The Guardian - Sport

Figure 4: Time Course of Fast Inactivation.

Nature

It was nearly eight in the evening, time for dinner.

The New Yorker

It will then move to a Friday night time slot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In general narrative writing, you can often omit "time" and simply use "afternoon" to keep your prose concise.

Common error

Avoid using "afternoon time" when referring to a general time of day like "in the afternoon". Adding "time" is only necessary if you are referring to a specific allocated period or slot.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afternoon time" functions primarily as a compound noun or a noun phrase. In linguistic data provided by Ludwig, it often acts as an attributive modifier for other nouns like "slot", "period" or "trial". It is used to categorize a specific segment of a twenty-four-hour cycle, distinguishing it from morning or night.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "afternoon time" is a standard and useful phrase in the English language. It is most effectively utilized when referring to specific time slots or observation periods in professional settings like television broadcasting and environmental science. While the word "afternoon" alone is often sufficient in casual conversation, adding "time" provides a structural context that clarifies that a specific block of the day is being discussed. The phrase enjoys high authority, appearing in prestigious publications like Nature and The New York Times, which confirms its legitimacy and clarity across different writing registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afternoon hours

Focuses on the duration of the period rather than a single point in time

p.m. hours

Uses the standard clock abbreviation for clarity in scheduling

afternoon slot

Commonly used in broadcasting or appointment scheduling

afternoon session

Implies a structured activity or a scheduled block during that timeframe

late afternoon

Specifies the time approaching evening

post-meridian time

A more technical and formal way to describe the p.m. period

mid-afternoon

Focuses specifically on the time around 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

midday period

Specifically refers to the middle portion of the day

daylight hours

Refers to the entire period of natural light, encompassing both morning and afternoon

later part of the day

A more descriptive and slightly less precise alternative

FAQs

How to use "afternoon time" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a specific period for an event, such as: "The broadcast was moved to a more desirable "afternoon time slot"."

What can I say instead of "afternoon time"?

Depending on the context, you can use "afternoon", "afternoon hours" or "p.m.".

Is "afternoon time" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral. It appears frequently in both scientific journals and news articles, making it appropriate for a wide range of writing styles.

What's the difference between "afternoon time" and "midday"?

While "midday" refers specifically to the time around noon, "afternoon time" covers the entire span from noon until the evening begins.