this very afternoon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'this very afternoon' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to the afternoon that is happening at the present time, or the one that is in the very immediate future. For example, "I plan to finish my project this very afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This very afternoon.

The New York Times

S., whose job interview is this very afternoon, tells me she's now decided "to not talk about my pregnancy until an offer is on the table.

The New York Times

"And our families, and our allies, such as Israel, would be in even greater jeopardy than we are this very afternoon".

The New York Times

Kudos to Frank Tarzi, of Olive Films, who has been stepping in where others have gone missing: word came in from him this very afternoon that his company will release "Johnny Guitar," one of the very best films ever to come out of Hollywood, on DVD August 7th.

The New Yorker

In fact he will step out this very afternoon in the gilded sport pyjamas of Royal Challengers Bangalore, yawning the occasional bunt over the ropes, spearing in an off break or two, dozing off behind his shades at deep-wide-extra-whatever.

The Guardian - Sport

I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal­scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!" An hour later, back at the Cratchit house, Tiny Tim awoke, perplexed by sounds of laughter and rejoicing from downstairs.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Before you go to bed this very night . .

The New Yorker

Tyler Hansbrough returned to North Carolina for his senior season with this very night in mind.

The New York Times - Sports

"Before you go to bed this very night ... .. the speaker was saying, as the young longhairs walked away.

The New Yorker

He plays (kinda) for Liverpool and Liverpool are one of those teams playing in Big Vase this very evening.

The Guardian - Sport

"I fink we should make a play date 4 our GENITILZ!" one man wrote this very morning.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this very afternoon" to clearly indicate an event or action happening on the afternoon of the current day, adding a sense of immediacy or importance.

Common error

While acceptable, "this very afternoon" can sound slightly emphatic in some formal settings. Consider using alternatives like "this afternoon" or "later today" for a more neutral tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this very afternoon" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event will occur. It provides temporal context, indicating the action will happen during the afternoon of the current day. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this very afternoon" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon phrase used to specify an event occurring during the afternoon of the current day. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, carrying a slightly emphatic tone. While appropriate in many situations, writers should consider alternatives like "this afternoon" or "later today" for a more neutral or formal register. When you use the expression, you are aiming at specifying the timeframe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this specific afternoon

Emphasizes the particularity of the afternoon in question.

this exact afternoon

Highlights the precision of the timing.

this same afternoon

Stresses that it's the identical afternoon already under discussion.

this present afternoon

Emphasizes the current or immediate nature of the afternoon.

later today

A more general way to refer to the afternoon of the current day.

this very day in the afternoon

Adds emphasis by reiterating "this very day."

in the course of this afternoon

A slightly more formal way of indicating the afternoon period.

sometime this afternoon

Indicates an unspecified time within the afternoon.

during this afternoon

Similar to "in the course of this afternoon", but slightly less formal.

the afternoon of this day

A more descriptive and slightly redundant phrasing.

FAQs

What does "this very afternoon" mean?

It means the afternoon of the current day, emphasizing that it is happening soon or is of particular importance.

How can I use "this very afternoon" in a sentence?

You can say, "I plan to complete the report "this very afternoon"", indicating you'll finish it during the afternoon of the current day.

What can I say instead of "this very afternoon"?

You can use alternatives like "later today", "this afternoon", or "this specific afternoon" depending on the context.

Is "this very afternoon" more formal than "this afternoon"?

While both are acceptable, "this very afternoon" can sound slightly more emphatic or urgent than the simple phrase "this afternoon".