Afternoon vs. Midday — What’s the Difference? (2024)

By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 5, 2024

Afternoon begins after midday, extending to early evening; midday strictly denotes the middle of the day, typically around noon.

Afternoon vs. Midday — What’s the Difference? (2)

Difference Between Afternoon and Midday

Table of Contents

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Key Differences

The afternoon starts immediately after midday, typically regarded as the period from 12 PM to early evening, around 6 PM. Whereas, midday specifically refers to the middle part of the day, usually around noon or 12 PM.

Activities in the afternoon often include work, school sessions, or leisure, extending over several hours. On the other hand, midday is often a point for a brief pause or break in activities, such as lunchtime.

The term "afternoon" is used to denote a broader time span, which can be subjective and culturally varied. However, midday represents a more precise and universally recognized moment, marking the transition from morning to afternoon.

In many cultures, specific social and formal events are scheduled in the afternoon, such as afternoon tea. Conversely, midday is typically associated with high solar intensity and is less tied to social events.

The afternoon can be seen as a phase of diminishing daylight, especially noted during the later hours. In contrast, midday is characterized by the highest sun position of the day, generally leading to the peak of daylight brightness.

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Comparison Chart

Definition

The period following midday to early evening.

The middle of the day, around noon.

Duration

Several hours (12 PM to about 6 PM).

Brief, usually centered around 12 PM.

Associated Activities

Work, school, leisure.

Often a break or pause time, like lunch.

Cultural Significance

Varied, includes events like afternoon tea.

Less culturally specific, associated with high solar intensity.

Light Conditions

Decreasing light towards the evening.

Peak daylight brightness.

Compare with Definitions

Afternoon

Often associated with relaxation and leisure activities.

They went for a walk every afternoon.

Midday

A time often designated for breaks in various cultures.

Workers usually take a break at midday.

Afternoon

Period following midday, extending to the early evening.

She scheduled all her meetings in the afternoon.

Midday

Not typically associated with specific social events.

Midday is usually a quiet time in the office.

Afternoon

Time for post-lunch activities and continuation of daily routines.

The streets are busier in the afternoon.

Midday

Associated with the highest sun position in the sky.

It gets extremely hot around midday during summer.

Afternoon

Can include cultural or social events specific to this time.

Afternoon tea is a popular event among the British.

Midday

The exact middle of the day, typically noon.

The bell rings at midday for lunch.

Afternoon

Recognized by diminishing daylight, especially closer to evening.

The light fades slowly during the afternoon.

Midday

Less variable than afternoon in terms of timing.

Midday is consistently around noon, regardless of the season.

Afternoon

Afternoon is the time of the day between noon and evening. It is the time when the sun is descending from its peak in the sky to somewhat before its terminus at the horizon in the west.

Midday

The middle of the day; noon.

Afternoon

The time from noon or lunchtime to evening

I'll be back at three in the afternoon

I telephoned this afternoon

She worked on Tuesday afternoons

Midday

Noon; twelve o'clock during the day

Afternoon

In the afternoon; every afternoon.

Midday

The middle part of the day; noon.

Afternoon

Short for good afternoon

Midday

Of or pertaining to noon; meridional; as, the midday sun.

Afternoon

The part of day from noon until dinnertime or sunset.

Midday

The middle of the day

Afternoon

The latter part

In the afternoon of life.

Afternoon

The part of the day from noon or lunchtime until sunset, evening, or suppertime or 6pm.

Afternoon

(figuratively) The later part of anything, often with implications of decline.

Afternoon

(informal) A party or social event held in the afternoon.

Afternoon

In the afternoon.

Afternoon

Ellipsis of good afternoon

Afternoon

The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and evening.

Afternoon

The part of the day between noon and evening;

He spent a quiet afternoon in the park

Afternoon

A conventional expression of greeting or farewell

Common Curiosities

What is the significance of midday in solar terms?

Midday is significant as it marks the point when the sun is at its highest in the sky, directly overhead in some locations.

What meals are associated with midday?

Midday is commonly associated with lunch, the main meal in many cultures taken around this time.

What meals are typically associated with the afternoon?

Afternoon meals can include a light lunch or, in some cultures, an afternoon tea which is both a meal and a social event.

Are there any health recommendations for activities at midday?

Health experts often recommend staying indoors or in shade during midday in summer months due to high UV exposure.

Can afternoon times vary based on the season?

Yes, the definition of afternoon can shift slightly depending on the daylight hours, which change with the seasons.

Is there a cultural importance attached to midday in any societies?

In some cultures, midday is traditionally a time for prayer or siesta, especially in hotter climates.

How do businesses typically use the afternoon hours?

Businesses often use afternoon hours for continued operations, meetings, and, in retail, a peak time for customer activity.

How does afternoon light affect outdoor activities?

The diminishing light in the afternoon can affect outdoor activities, often making them more pleasant as temperatures cool.

What is a typical greeting associated with midday?

A typical greeting at midday might be "Good noon" or simply "Good afternoon" shortly after midday.

How is afternoon time used in educational settings?

Afternoons in educational settings are typically used for specialized classes, sports activities, or extracurriculars.

How do schools utilize the concept of midday?

Schools often schedule a lunch break around midday, and it may also mark a shift from morning to afternoon classes.

What is the typical duration of midday?

Midday is generally considered a brief period centered around noon, lasting about an hour.

How do event planners use the afternoon hours?

Event planners often schedule key activities in the afternoon, taking advantage of the long daylight hours.

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Tayyaba Rehman

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Co-written by

Urooj Arif

Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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Afternoon vs. Midday — What’s the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Is midday the same as afternoon? ›

“Noon” refers to 12 o'clock in the daytime. “Afternoon” refers to the time between noon and about 4 o'clock in the evening. “Midday” is the same as “noon” but it can also refer to a short time before noon and a short time after noon.

What time of day is considered mid-day? ›

Midday is twelve o'clock in the middle of the day. At midday everyone had lunch.

Is 12 in the afternoon AM or PM? ›

Answer: 12 O'clock in the afternoon is pm.

Whereas PM, pm, p.m., or P.M. are typically abbreviated post meridiem.

Is afternoon after 3 pm? ›

What time is the afternoon and what time is the evening? The afternoon is the time between 1 to 5 pm, the Evening is the part between 5 to 7 pm, and Night is the time from 9 to 4 pm.

Is 2pm considered midday? ›

'Noon' means 'midday' or 12 o'clock during the day. 'Midnight' refers to 12 o'clock during the night. Simple right? Well, maybe not, especially if you're using a 12-hour clock.

Why is noon not called midday? ›

The word noon comes from a Latin root, nona hora, or "ninth hour." In medieval times, noon fell at three PM, nine hours after a monk's traditional rising hour of six o'clock in the morning. Over time, as noon came to be synonymous in English with midday, its timing changed to twelve PM.

What counts as midday? ›

the middle of the day; noon or the time centering around noon.

What does midday mean? ›

the middle of the day, at or near 12 o'clock; noon. (Definition of midday from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

How late is mid afternoon? ›

For weather forecast Today: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Tonight: 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Morning: 6 a.m.-noon Early morning: 6-9 a.m. Mid-morning: 8-10 a.m. Late morning: 9 a.m.-noon Afternoon: noon-6 p.m. Early afternoon: noon-3 p.m. Mid-afternoon: 2-4 p.m. Late- afternoon: 3-6 p.m. Evening: 6-9 p.m. Late evening: 9-midnight Late at night: ...

Are noon and afternoon the same? ›

Terminology. Afternoon is often defined as the period between noon and sunset. If this definition is adopted, the specific range of time varies in one direction: noon is defined as the time when the sun reaching its highest point in the sky, but the boundary between afternoon and evening has no standard definition.

What is afternoon time? ›

The afternoon is the time of day that starts mid-day and ends in the evening. If you have an afternoon appointment, it's probably some time between 12:00 and 5:00 p.m. It's pretty much agreed that the afternoon begins after noon, or 12:00 p.m., but when the afternoon ends and evening begins is a bit more vague.

Is 12pm midday? ›

Midday and midnight conventions

There are no standards established for the meaning of 12am and 12pm. It is often said that 12am Monday is midnight on Monday morning and 12pm is midday. This puts all the times beginning with 12 and ending with am in the same one-hour block, similarly with those ending with pm.

Is afternoon after midday? ›

You can think of PM as the opposite of AM. We associate PM with the afternoon and evening. The term pm is an abbreviation of the Latin 'Post Meridiem', which translates to 'after midday'. These indications of time are centred around Midday as this is how the 12-hour clock functions.

How late is afternoon? ›

Afternoon: Typically, the afternoon encompasses the time between noon (12:00 PM) and the initial onset of evening, often at around 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. In some cases, it can be extended to encompass the late afternoon, spanning approximately from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

What is the difference between PM and afternoon? ›

Since AM (ante meridiem) means before noon, 8 AM refers to 8 o'clock in the morning, whereas, PM (post meridiem) means afternoon so it refers to any time after midday till midnight. Thus, 8 PM refers to 8 o'clock in the late evening or night.

Is midday 12pm or 1pm? ›

Midday and midnight conventions

There are no standards established for the meaning of 12am and 12pm. It is often said that 12am Monday is midnight on Monday morning and 12pm is midday. This puts all the times beginning with 12 and ending with am in the same one-hour block, similarly with those ending with pm.

What do you call mid-day? ›

Other forms: middays. As a noun, the word midday refers to the middle of the day. You should avoid the sun at midday, especially if you have very fair skin. The noun midday can particularly mean noon.

What time is considered mid-afternoon? ›

Mid-afternoon: 2-4 p.m. Late- afternoon: 3-6 p.m.

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