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
Whether inventing the Bong-a-Tron or freeing themselves after hours trapped inside a Party City parking lot, these misadventures almost always hinge on weed. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026 Senators left Washington for a five-week recess Saturday after hours of tense negotiations over which priorities to take up before departing, culminating in a series of early morning votes. — Theodoric Meyer, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Coco made her final outfit changes as the after-hours party began. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 Year-on-year admissions continue to smash records, and a robust turnout — from the city’s open-air cinemas to the festival’s masterclasses and after-hours events — is all but guaranteed. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 13 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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