at evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at evening" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to convey a sense of warmth or intimacy. You can use it when you are referring to the end of the day. For example: "She fell asleep at evening, long after the sun had gone down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I did my A-levels at evening classes.

The Guardian

As I got older it was just at evening.

The Guardian

At Evening Meeting, Mom had said that she considered Kyle's decision not to intervene judicious.

The New Yorker

Some of them did faint at times, during the summer at evening concerts.

The New Yorker

I would work in the day and go training at evening.

Independent

At evening events, she skips canapés for crudité (but no dip).

The New York Times

Sound Mirrors opens with a still shot of a coastline at evening.

The Guardian

I guess the people there are just like me and can't stay awake at evening performances.

The New York Times

At evening, they dine again, with any guests who may happen to be with them.

The New Yorker

At evening parties, long white shirtdresses were reminiscent of Renoir portraits.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Overnight memory retention is represented by the difference in the number of words recalled at morning retrieval minus the number of words reproduced correctly at evening immediate recall.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at evening" to evoke a sense of tradition or formality, particularly in descriptive or narrative writing. For example, "The villagers gathered at evening to share stories around the fire."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "at evening" can sound overly formal in everyday conversation. Opt for the more common "in the evening" in casual contexts to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at evening" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is used to denote the period towards the end of the day.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at evening" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe events that take place during the evening, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While often interchangeable with "in the evening", it carries a slightly more formal or literary tone. Ludwig's examples show the phrase is most frequently used in news and media contexts, followed by science and encyclopedias. When writing, it's important to consider the context and audience: for casual settings, "in the evening" is often preferred, while "at evening" can add a touch of elegance or tradition to more formal writing. Be mindful of overusing "at evening" in informal settings to avoid sounding overly stiff. Using alternatives such as "during the evening", "towards evening" may suit a given context better.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the evening

More common and general way to refer to the evening time.

during the evening

Emphasizes the duration of an event within the evening.

towards evening

Indicates a time approaching the evening.

as evening approaches

Highlights the progression towards evening.

by evening

Specifies a deadline or completion time related to evening.

at dusk

Refers specifically to the time of twilight at the start of evening.

at twilight

Similar to "at dusk", referring to the soft light period in the evening.

when evening comes

Highlights the arrival or commencement of evening.

in the twilight hours

Implies a period of time during twilight.

after sunset

Refers to the time immediately following the setting of the sun.

FAQs

How can I use "at evening" in a sentence?

Use "at evening" to describe events or occurrences happening during the evening time. For example, "The concert began "in the evening", just as the sun was setting."

What are some alternatives to saying "at evening"?

Instead of "at evening", you could say ""in the evening"", "during the evening", or "towards evening" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "at evening" or "in the evening"?

While both are grammatically correct, ""in the evening"" is more commonly used in modern English. "At evening" may sound slightly more formal or archaic.

What's the difference between "at dusk" and "at evening"?

"At dusk" refers specifically to the time of twilight, just as the sun is setting, while "at evening" refers to a broader period encompassing the later part of the day.