nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm How to pronounce nighttime (audio)
Synonyms of nighttimenext
often attributive
: the time from dusk to dawn

Synonyms of nighttime

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Examples of nighttime in a Sentence

The animal hunts in the nighttime. before electricity, gas lamps were used for illumination during the nighttime
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.
The result is that nighttime driving increasingly feels less like navigating through darkness and more like surviving a rolling photonics demonstration from the consumer electronics industry. — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 Forecasters expect humidity levels will increase by Saturday, which could limit nighttime cooling and combine with warm temperatures to prompt another round of heat advisories. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Alternatively, take in views of a different sort on the islands of Møn and Nyord, both of which have achieved Dark Sky Park designation; at nighttime, their unpolluted skies light up with stars. — Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 Young people who want access to algorithmic feeds or nighttime notifications have to consent to their parent or legal guardian being notified. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nighttime

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nighttime was in the 14th century

Rhymes for nighttime

See All Rhymes for nighttime

Browse Nearby Words

nighttide
nighttime
night vision
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Cite this Entry

“Nighttime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nighttime. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nighttime

noun
night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm How to pronounce nighttime (audio)
: the time from dusk to dawn
nighttime adjective

Legal Definition

nighttime

noun
night·​time
1
: the time from dusk to dawn
2
: a statutorily set period usually beginning shortly after dusk and ending shortly after dawn

More from Merriam-Webster on nighttime

Nglish: Translation of nighttime for Spanish Speakers

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