Evening

Evening is the part of the day that generally comes after the afternoon and before night. It does not have a universally fixed starting time, because people and cultures use the word in slightly different ways. In everyday life, evening often begins when daylight starts to fade and continues through the period around sunset and the hours that follow.

The length of this period changes with the season and the location. As the Sun moves lower toward the horizon, the amount of direct sunlight decreases and the sky can change from bright blue to shades of yellow, orange, pink, or red, depending on atmospheric conditions. After sunset, the sky gradually becomes darker as twilight progresses toward night.

Evening is also an important part of human daily routines. People may finish school or work, eat dinner, spend time with family, exercise, or prepare for sleep during these hours. Our bodies respond to the changing light through biological rhythms, including the circadian rhythm, which helps regulate sleep and wakefulness.

As natural light decreases, the body normally begins preparing for nighttime rest, although artificial lighting and individual habits can influence this process. Evening should not be confused with sunset: sunset is the specific moment when the upper edge of the Sun disappears below the horizon at a given location, whereas evening is a broader period surrounding and following that transition. Its exact boundaries therefore depend on context rather than on a single precise clock time.