6pm

6pm is an abbreviation for 6 p.m., the time marking the sixth hour after noon in the 12‑hour clock system. It represents the moment on a standard analog clock when the hour hand is positioned directly above the 6, indicating that half a day has passed since midnight. In the 24‑hour clock, 6pm corresponds to 18:00, a notation commonly used in military, industrial, and European settings. The abbreviation is pronounced “six p.m.” and is conventionally written with a space before the period (e.g., 6 pm) although variations such as 6p.m. or 6P.M. are sometimes seen.

The phrase is frequently employed in daily scheduling, television broadcasting, and transportation timetables. In the United States and many English‑speaking countries, 6pm is often considered the beginning of dinner time and the end of the typical workday, which influences cultural practices such as the “nightcap” tradition or the expression “six o’clock shadow.” Digital operating systems and mobile devices automatically display 6pm in various time zones, converting the user’s local time to the appropriate 24‑hour notation for convenience.

Because 6pm is a shared reference point across multiple time zones, it is also used in international coordination contexts. For example, a virtual meeting scheduled for 6pm Pacific Time will occur at 9pm Eastern Time and 1am the next day in Greenwich Mean Time. The term frequently appears in business emails, calendar invitations, and legal documents where precise timing is essential.

In summary, 6pm is a standard time notation that functions as both a casual marker of evening and a formal time reference in professional, technological, and cultural contexts.