nightfall

noun

night·​fall ˈnīt-ˌfȯl How to pronounce nightfall (audio)
Synonyms of nightfallnext
: the close of the day : dusk

Synonyms of nightfall

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of nightfall in a Sentence

When nightfall came, we were still waiting for the electricity to come back on. since you aren't taking a flashlight, make sure you're back at camp by nightfall
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After pulling into their campsite well after nightfall, the couple climbed into bed, wondering what and who surrounded them. — Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Any wet leaves also have time to dry before nightfall, reducing the chance of fungal diseases. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 July 2026 Authorities were racing to contain the blaze before nightfall, when aircraft can no longer perform firefighting operations. — Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 In addition, shady pergolas, dining tables, and ample seating make the private outdoor areas the perfect spot to kick back by day and stargaze after nightfall. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightfall

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nightfall was in 1700

Rhymes for nightfall

See All Rhymes for nightfall

Browse Nearby Words

nightery
nightfall
night fighter
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nightfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nightfall. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

nightfall

noun
night·​fall -ˌfȯl How to pronounce nightfall (audio)
: the coming of night : dusk

More from Merriam-Webster on nightfall

Nglish: Translation of nightfall for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All