twilight

noun

twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt How to pronounce twilight (audio)
Synonyms of twilight
often attributive
1
a
: the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night produced by diffusion of sunlight through the atmosphere and its dust
especially : such light immediately following sunset
b
: a time of twilight
2
a
: an intermediate state that is not clearly defined
… lived in the twilight of neutrality …—Newsweek
b
: a period of decline

Synonyms of twilight

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Examples of twilight in a Sentence

The sun set and twilight fell. stumbled around the twilight of the shuttered room, unable to see where she was going
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.
That’s because even if the tiniest sliver of the sun remains visible, the landscape stays surprisingly bright, the sky never falls into twilight, and the sun’s spectacular corona remains hidden. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The breaking of silence in a tipsy twilight, if only for the sake of comical nonsense, can be as blessed as the break of dawn. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 The sky darkens to twilight, exposing the Sun's corona and sometimes revealing stars and planets as temperatures briefly cool. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026 The event will briefly transform afternoon daylight into an eerie twilight-like darkness. — Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for twilight

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twilight was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing twilight

Rhymes for twilight

See All Rhymes for twilight

Browse Nearby Words

twigwithy
twilight
twilight arch
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

twilight

noun
twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt How to pronounce twilight (audio)
: the period or the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night

More from Merriam-Webster on twilight

Nglish: Translation of twilight for Spanish Speakers

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