P.m.: meaning, definitions and examples

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p.m.

[ ˌpiː ˈɛm ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

time measurement

p.m. is an abbreviation for post meridiem, which means after noon. It is used to indicate the time between noon and midnight.

Synonyms

afternoon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
p.m.	Used when specifying the exact time of day after noon and before midnight. It is often used in formal or written contexts such as schedules, timetables, and appointments. The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. The train arrives at 7:45 p.m.
afternoon	Generally refers to the time between noon and evening. It is often used in casual conversation and can describe a segment of the day rather than a specific time. Let's meet in the afternoon for a coffee. He usually takes a short nap in the afternoon.

Word

Description / Examples

p.m.

Used when specifying the exact time of day after noon and before midnight. It is often used in formal or written contexts such as schedules, timetables, and appointments.

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The train arrives at 7:45 p.m.

afternoon

Generally refers to the time between noon and evening. It is often used in casual conversation and can describe a segment of the day rather than a specific time.

Let's meet in the afternoon for a coffee.
He usually takes a short nap in the afternoon.

Examples of usage

It's 3 p.m. and I'm feeling hungry.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m.
We will meet at the restaurant at 8 p.m.

Translations

Translations of the word "p.m." in other languages:

🇵🇹 tarde

🇮🇳 अपराह्न

🇩🇪 nachmittags

🇮🇩 sore

🇺🇦 після полудня

🇵🇱 popołudnie

🇯🇵 午後

🇫🇷 après-midi

🇪🇸 de la tarde

🇹🇷 öğleden sonra

🇰🇷 오후

🇸🇦 بعد الظهر

🇨🇿 odpoledne

🇸🇰 popoludnie

🇨🇳 下午

🇸🇮 popoldne

🇮🇸 eftirmiðdagur

🇰🇿 түс ауа

🇬🇪 შუადღის შემდეგ

🇦🇿 günortadan sonra

🇲🇽 de la tarde

Etymology

The term p.m. comes from Latin and stands for post meridiem, which translates to 'after midday' or 'after noon'. The use of a.m. and p.m. to indicate time of day can be traced back to the ancient Romans, who divided the day into 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. The concept of using a.m. and p.m. has continued through the centuries and is now a common way to express time in the modern world.