Objectively, 4 PM falls within the afternoon. Most style guides (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style) and time conventions place it before the evening threshold of 5 or 6 PM. For example:
- Afternoon Example: "The meeting is scheduled for 4 PM this afternoon." (Common and correct.)
- Evening Example: "Dinner is at 4 PM this evening." (Less typical, sounds off to many.)
Culturally, though, perceptions vary. In casual speech, someone might call 4 PM "evening" if it feels late in their day—say, during winter when it’s dark by then. Still, this is subjective and less standard.