eve

The day or evening before a holiday or special day.

• We exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.
• They stayed home on New Year’s Eve.
• She called on the eve of his birthday.

How to use it: on the eve of something (They arrived on the eve of the wedding.)

Common phrases: Christmas eve, New Year’s eve, on the eve

The time just before an important event or change.

• Talks continued on the eve of the election.
• She resigned on the eve of the trial.
• The discovery came on the eve of a new scientific era.

How to use it: on the eve of something (The country stood on the eve of a major political change.)

Common phrases: eve of something, on the eve

The later part of the day, as daylight fades and night begins.

• They walked home at eve.
• A cool breeze softened the summer eve.
• The stars appeared as eve settled over the hills.

Similar words: evening

Opposites: morning

Common phrases: summer eve, quiet eve, at eve