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.
Unlike the nighttime aurora oval, which expands dramatically during geomagnetic storms, the dayside auroral oval changes much less, making displays harder to see even during active space weather. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Rock, Reggae & Relief brought a daytime community block-party vibe to downtown Pittsburgh before the festival transformed into a full-scale nighttime concert experience. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 The incursions became serious enough that Langley canceled nighttime training flights and moved its F-22 jets to another air base. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 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 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

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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 16 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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