1The time when the sun sets and it gradually grows dark — the period from evening moving into night. Antonym: 明け (dawn).
暮れになると、公園の街灯が一つずつ灯り始めた。
As dusk fell, the streetlights in the park began to switch on one by one.
暮れの空はオレンジ色に染まっていた。
The dusk sky was dyed orange.
夏は暮れが遅く、七時を過ぎてもまだ明るい。
In summer, dusk comes late — it's still light out even past seven o'clock.
2The close or end of something — refers to the point nearing the conclusion of an event, season, or period.
祭りの暮れには、いつも花火が打ち上げられる。
Fireworks are always launched at the close of the festival.
梅雨の暮れには、急に暑さが増してくる。
As the rainy season draws to a close, the heat suddenly picks up.
3The end of the year, especially the closing days of December — often used in the phrase 年の暮れ (year-end).
年の暮れは大掃除やお歳暮の準備で忙しい。
The year-end is busy with year-end cleaning and preparing gifts.
暮れも押し迫った十二月三十日に帰省した。
I went home on December 30th, with the year-end already close at hand.
毎年暮れになると、家族で紅白歌合戦を見るのが恒例だ。
Every year at year-end, it's a family tradition to watch the Kōhaku singing contest.