afterglow

[af-ter-gloh, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌgloʊ, ˈɑf- /

NOUN

glow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bloom blossom brilliance glare gleam glimmer glitter intensity light radiance ray warmth

STRONG

blush effulgence flush gusto heat incandescence lambency luminosity passion phosphorescence splendor vividness

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dark dullness

NOUN

luster

Synonyms

STRONGEST

brightness brilliance glitter glow sheen shimmer sparkle

STRONG

brilliancy burnish dazzle effulgence glaze gleam glint incandescence iridescence lambency luminousness opalescence polish radiance refulgence resplendence

WEAK

candescence

Antonyms

STRONGEST

darkness dullness

WEAK

matte

NOUN

twilight

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dusk sunset

STRONG

decline dimness ebb end evening eventide gloaming half-light night nightfall sundown

WEAK

afterlight crepuscular light early evening last phase late afternoon

Antonyms

WEAK

dawn daybreak sunrise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The cosmic microwave background — the afterglow of the Big Bang — shows a small but persistent asymmetry: a preference for one spatial orientation over its mirror image.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

We lived in the missions’ afterglow, with orange-flavored Tang, syndicated “Star Trek” reruns, and “Star Wars” filling in for actual lunar landings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The couple will still be on a high after all the festivities and luxuriating in the afterglow of the love — and cash — bestowed upon them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

The afterglow of the unprecedented second state visit can hardly do harm.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2025

At higher levels it became purple, and this purple afterglow persisted for what seemed a long time.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

afterglow

Example Sentences

Related Words