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Evening vs Tonight - What's the difference?

evening | tonight |

As nouns the difference between evening and tonight

is that evening is the time of the day between dusk and night, when it gets dark while tonight is the nighttime of the current day or date; this night.

As a verb evening

is present participle of lang=en.

As an adverb tonight is

during the night following the current day.

evening

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ), corresponding to '' + ''-ing .

Noun

(en noun)
  • The time of the day between dusk and night, when it gets dark.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • The time of the day between the approximate time of midwinter dusk and midnight (compare afternoon); the period after the end of regular office working hours.
  • *
  • *:At half-past nine on this Saturday evening', the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habituĂ©s, who met every ' evening , for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
  • *
  • , section=chapter 2, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.}}
  • (lb) A concluding time period; a point in time near the end of something; the beginning of the end of something.
  • :
  • Derived terms
    * evening dress * evening gown * evening grosbeak * evening prayer * evening primrose * evening star * evening trumpet flower * eveningwear * evening wrap * good evening * this evening
    See also
    *

    Etymology 2

    Inflected forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • 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 .