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after hours
/ˈæf.tər ˈaʊ.ərz/
outside regular working time
The customer support team is available after hours for urgent issues.
The support team works outside standard business hours to handle emergencies.
neutral
outside of regular business or working hours
After hours, the office is locked, but the security system remains active.
Outside of work hours, the building is closed but still monitored.
She prefers to do her research after hours when the library is quiet.
She finds it easier to study when the library is less crowded, typically outside normal operating times.
Commonly used in business, retail, and service contexts to describe operations outside standard schedules.
Collocations
work after hoursto work outside regular business timeafter-hours serviceservice provided outside standard operating hoursafter-hours tradingstock trading conducted outside regular market hours
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in Business Contexts
Use 'after hours' to describe services available outside standard business times, such as customer support, security, or emergency services. Avoid using it for personal activities unless referring to work-related tasks.
Gold Rule
Temporal Clarity
Always pair 'after hours' with a clear context (e.g., 'after hours service', 'after hours work') to avoid ambiguity. The phrase itself does not specify the exact hours—it depends on the context.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'after' (Old English 'æfter', meaning 'later in time') and 'hours' (from Latin 'hora', via Old French 'ure'). The compound emerged in the 19th century to describe activities occurring beyond scheduled work periods.
Usage Notes
Frequently used in professional settings to describe services, availability, or events that occur beyond typical 9-to-5 schedules. In legal contexts, 'after hours' may refer to activities occurring outside permitted timeframes (e.g., 'after-hours noise violations').
Word Breakdown
after
later in time than
prepositionhours
specific periods of time
nounEnglish Dictionary