What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Afternoon vs Tonight - What's the difference?

afternoon | tonight |

As nouns the difference between afternoon and tonight

is that afternoon is the part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening; the part of the day following noon which is daylight all year round; the second half of the working day (in regular office hours) while tonight is the nighttime of the current day or date; this night.

As an adverb tonight is

during the night following the current day.

afternoon

English

Alternative forms

* afternoone (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening; the part of the day following noon which is daylight all year round; the second half of the working day (in regular office hours).
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.}}
  • * , chapter=23
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough. He would stand leaning on a stick and holding a hand to his side, and when the paroxysm had passed it left him shaking.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=3 citation , passage=Here the stripped panelling was warmly gold and the pictures, mostly of the English school, were mellow and gentle in the afternoon light.}}
  • * 1966 , (The Kinks) - (Sunny Afternoon)
  • And I love to live so pleasantly / Live this life of luxury / Lazing on a sunny afternoon  / In the summertime

    Synonyms

    * arvo

    See also

    *

    Derived terms

    * afternoonish * afternoon tea * good afternoon

    See also

    * forenoon

    Statistics

    tonight

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete) * tonite (qualifier)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • During the night following the current day.
  • I want to party tonight !
    I had a wonderful time with you tonight .
  • (obsolete) Last night.
  • * 1596 , , IV. ii. 165:
  • Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury, / With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire, / And others more, going to seek the grave / Of Arthur, whom they say is killed to-night / On your suggestion.
  • * 1599 , , III. iii. 1:
  • I dreamt tonight that I did feast with Caesar, / And things unluckily charge my fantasy;

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The nighttime of the current day or date; this night.
  • Tonight is the night.
    I have high hopes for tonight .