mid-afternoon

IPA/ˌmɪdˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/
IPA/ˌæf.tɚ.təˈnuːn/

mid-afternoon — noun

1. the time roughly in the middle of the afternoon, usually between about two and f

1.nounB1
Definition

the time roughly in the middle of the afternoon, usually between about two and four o'clock

Example

Saira has a dentist appointment in the mid‑afternoon, so she left work early.

preposition: in the mid‑afternoon

By mid‑afternoon, the temperature in Bilal's garden had reached thirty‑eight degrees.

adverbial use: by mid‑afternoon

Common collocations
  • in the mid‑afternoon
  • by mid‑afternoon
  • mid‑afternoon sun
  • mid‑afternoon snack
  • mid‑afternoon slump
Synonyms
  • afternoon

    the broader period from noon to evening; less specific than mid‑afternoon

Grammar Patterns

in the mid-afternoon

by mid-afternoon

Usage Note

Often used with the preposition 'in' to describe when something happens ('in the mid‑afternoon'), or with 'by' to describe the time by which something is completed ('by mid‑afternoon').

Common Mistakes

We met in mid‑afternoon at the cafe.
We met in the mid‑afternoon at the cafe.
'mid‑afternoon' typically takes the definite article 'the' after 'in'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Mid‑afternoon' differs from 'afternoon' in that it names a specific part of the afternoon rather than the whole span from noon to evening. While 'afternoon' can stretch from 12:00 until sunset, 'mid‑afternoon' narrows the focus to roughly 2–4 p.m. 'Late afternoon' similarly names a sub‑period (roughly 4–6 p.m.), so the three words form a time‑progression. In casual use, people often say 'in the afternoon' for any afternoon event; they reach for 'mid‑afternoon' when they want to be more precise about the timing — for instance, 'The meeting is in the mid‑afternoon, not first thing in the morning.'

afternoon ↗mid‑afternoonlate afternoon

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ~ sun
  • ~ snack
  • ~ slump
  • ~ meeting

Phrases

  • in the mid‑afternoon
  • by mid‑afternoon

Prepositions

  • in the ~
  • by ~
  • during the ~

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'mid-' (meaning 'middle') and 'afternoon', which itself comes from 'after' + 'noon'. The word has been used in English since at least the 18th century to refer to the middle portion of the afternoon.