p.m.
p.m. — abbreviation
1. written after a clock time to show that it is after midday, usually in the after
written after a clock time to show that it is after midday, usually in the afternoon, evening, or before midnight.
Our doctor can see children only after 3 p.m. on Fridays.
[time] + p.m. after a clock time
The school concert starts at 7 p.m. in the main hall.
Please finish the form before 5 p.m. today, not tomorrow morning.
By 9 p.m., the night market streets were already full of people.
- after noon
explains the idea rather than serving as the usual written label
- in the afternoon
a full phrase, not a clock abbreviation
- in the evening
fits later times, but is less exact than p.m.
- a.m.
marks times from midnight to noon
文法句型
[time] + p.m.
[time] + pm
用法筆記
Placed after a number that names the time. Distinguish this sense from the noun and verb senses, where the same letters stand for other longer expressions such as prime minister or private message.
常見錯誤
p.m. — noun
- p.m.singular
- p.m.splural
1. the political leader who heads the government in countries with this office; oft
the political leader who heads the government in countries with this office; often shortened to PM in news and official writing.
Reporters waited outside because the PM was speaking after lunch.
the PM for a country's head of government
After the election, the PM met local business leaders in Seoul.
The new PM promised cheaper train fares during her first week.
At the debate, the PM answered questions about school funding.
- prime minister
the full form, used in ordinary writing
- premier
used in some countries and news styles
- head of government
broader and more formal
文法句型
the PM
new PM
用法筆記
Usually written in capitals and often used with 'the'. Distinguish this political sense from noun sense 2, which appears in workplace project talk rather than elections or government.
常見錯誤
2. the person at work who plans a project, organizes the team, and keeps the work o
the person at work who plans a project, organizes the team, and keeps the work on schedule; short for project manager.
Ask the PM if the website launch date has changed again.
ask the PM in a work project context
During Monday's call, our PM checked costs and assigned new tasks.
The client emailed the PM about delays in the design work.
Naoko became PM halfway through the app project last summer.
- project manager
the full job title
- team lead
broader; may guide people without owning the whole project
- coordinator
often narrower, with less decision-making power
文法句型
our PM
the PM on this project
用法筆記
Common in office talk, schedules, and chat messages about work. Distinguish this sense from noun sense 1 by context: this one appears with budgets, clients, deadlines, and teams, not national government.
常見錯誤
3. a private online note that only the sender and the intended reader can open and
a private online note that only the sender and the intended reader can open and read.
I saw your PM after dinner and replied from my laptop before bed.
your PM for a private online message
The seller sent a PM with the pickup address.
After the game, Roya got a PM from a classmate.
Chidi's PM stayed unread because the app logged me out.
- private message
the full form
- DM
more common on some modern apps
- direct message
full form of DM
- public post
visible to everyone in a group or feed
文法句型
send a PM
get a PM
reply to a PM
用法筆記
Mostly used on social-media sites, forums, and buying groups. Distinguish this sense from verb sense 1 by grammar: the noun usually follows an article or possessive word, as in 'a PM' or 'your PM'.
常見錯誤
p.m. — verb
- p.m.present simple I / you / we / they
- p.m.s3rd person singular
- p.m.ing-ing form
- p.m.edpast simple
1. to send a person a private online note through a social-media site or similar se
to send a person a private online note through a social-media site or similar service.
PM me after class if you need the homework file.
PM + person in an imperative
Several parents PMed the coach about Saturday's practice time.
You can PM the seller for more photos of the bike.
Eli PMed us the restaurant name right after the meeting.
- message
broader; can be private or public depending on platform
- DM
very close in modern app language
- direct-message
more explicit and less forum-like
- post publicly
share the message where everyone can see it
文法句型
PM + person
PM + person + details
用法筆記
This verb is informal and strongly tied to online platforms. Distinguish it from noun sense 3 by sentence shape: the verb directly takes the person after it, as in 'PM me', while the noun appears in phrases like 'a PM' or 'your PM'.