Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Between noon and midnight: Used to specify that a time occurs in the 12-hour period from 12:00 noon to 11:59 at night. It is the counterpart to "a.m." (ante meridiem).

Usage

• The abbreviation "p.m." (or "P.M.") is almost always used instead of the full Latin phrase "post meridiem."
• It is placed after the numeral(s) indicating the hour.
• It is used with the 12-hour clock format to avoid ambiguity.

Examples

• Adverb:
  • The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
  • The store closes at 9:30 p.m.
  • Let's have dinner at 7 p.m.

Advanced Usage

• "12 p.m.": This specifically denotes noon (12:00 midday), not midnight. Midnight is denoted as "12 a.m." This convention is used to distinguish noon from midnight clearly within the 12-hour system.
  • The deadline is 12 p.m. (noon) tomorrow.

Variants and Related Words

• p.m. / P.M.: The standard abbreviation for "post meridiem."
• ante meridiem (a.m. / A.M.): Meaning "before noon"; used for the period from midnight to just before noon.

Synonyms

• Afternoon and evening: These are general time descriptors but are not precise synonyms. "P.m." is a technical term for the entire second half of the 12-hour day cycle.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is directly from Latin, meaning "after midday."
• It refers strictly to the time period, not to the quality of light (e.g., daylight or darkness). For example, 5 p.m. could be light or dark depending on the season and location.

Adjective

1. after noon

Adverb

1. between noon and midnight
   • let's meet at 8 P.M.