after hours

1 of 2

phrase

: after the regular quitting or closing time

after-hours

2 of 2

adjective

af·​ter-hours ˌaf-tər-ˈau̇(-ə)rz How to pronounce after-hours (audio)
: engaged in or operating after a legal or conventional closing time
after-hours drinking
an after-hours club

Examples of after hours in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Phrase
Stocks @ Night is a daily newsletter delivered after hours, giving you a first look at tomorrow and last look at today. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 7 July 2026 Dausey recommends enabling sleep settings and shutting equipment down after hours to help create meaningful savings over time. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
Adjective
Cooling failures alone make up roughly a quarter of all after-hours service calls. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The roughly 2% drop after-hours in shares Tuesday is sending Nike to roughly $40 per share. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for after hours

Word History

First Known Use

Phrase

1781, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of after hours was in 1781

Rhymes for after hours

See All Rhymes for after hours

Browse Nearby Words

afterhend
after hours
after-hours
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“After hours.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after%20hours. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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