towards evening

USAGE SUMMARY

"towards evening" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the general period of evening, such as in the sentence "The birds began chirping towards evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Towards evening, the British withdrew, but officers of the Gordon Highlanders failed to see the galloper who waved them back, and, as darkness fell, they found themselves cut off.

The Guardian - Books

Anderson dutifully included the verse in a cable he sent back to Washington: Towards evening my soul was disquieted And I urged my carriage up to this ancient plateau The setting sun has boundless beauty Only the yellow dusk is so near.

The New Yorker

Towards evening, rain streamed down heavily, abating somewhat with night.

Wikipedia

Towards evening, the Covenanters and Parliamentarians themselves launched a surprise attack.

Wikipedia

Towards evening, when the hyena was all dressed up, she declared, "I really feel in tip-top form.

Vice

Towards evening, we reached our hostel, which came complete with a complement of grazing yaks, a broken steam heater and wet, cold, hard mattresses.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

My abiding memory of Singh, who resigned his seat through ill health in March this year, is of one evening in 1998 towards midnight in the House of Commons library a few months after he had been elected.

Independent

Summers here are warm, the sea temperature refreshing rather than cold, and the long evenings stretch themselves out towards midnight.

The Guardian - Travel

Mulato II, even under well-watered conditions, showed an increase of leaf rolling towards noon (Fig.  3C and D).

AoB PLANTS

The clock hand had first moved towards midnight in 1949.

The Guardian

The train pulls out of Penzance towards midnight.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "towards evening" to indicate a general timeframe transitioning from day to night, allowing for flexibility in interpretation rather than a precise time.

Common error

Avoid using "towards evening" when a more specific time (e.g., 6 PM) is known and relevant, as it can sound vague and less informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "towards evening" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a time frame. As Ludwig AI highlights, it specifies a period leading up to the evening.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "towards evening" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned phrase used to denote the time leading up to the evening. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its use is observed in a variety of contexts, most commonly in news and media. While it's a versatile phrase, be mindful of using more specific time references when precision is required. Consider alternatives like "as evening approaches" or "near nightfall" for slight shifts in meaning or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as evening approaches

Rephrases the timing with a focus on the approach of evening.

as evening draws near

Similar to 'as evening approaches' but with a slightly more formal tone.

near nightfall

Highlights the proximity to the fall of night.

around dusk

Specifies the time around dusk.

as the day fades

Focuses on the fading of daylight.

as twilight descends

Focuses on the descent of twilight.

in the late afternoon

Specifies a time frame slightly earlier than "towards evening".

when evening is nigh

A more poetic and less common way of saying "towards evening".

close to suppertime

Associates the time with the approach of the evening meal.

at eventide

A more archaic and literary term for the time around evening.

FAQs

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

You can use "towards evening" to indicate a time frame just before night. For example, "The temperature usually drops significantly towards evening".

What's a more formal alternative to "towards evening"?

Alternatives like "as evening draws near" or "at eventide" can be more formal, depending on the context.

Is "towards evening" the same as "in the evening"?

"Towards evening" implies a time leading up to the evening, while "in the evening" refers to the evening period itself. "In the evening" could refer to any time after sunset.

What can I say instead of "towards evening" in casual conversation?

In casual conversation, you might use "around dusk" or "near nightfall" as more informal alternatives.