nighttime

noun

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

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.
In a nighttime video, a group of men is seen blocking traffic on a highway and slicking the roadway to prepare for the race. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 Its nighttime series include The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer, The Lead With Jake Tapper, Erin Burnett OutFront, Anderson Cooper 360, and The Source With Kaitlan Collins. Monica Mercuri, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2024 Cherries, bananas, nuts, milk, and whole grains contain sleep-promoting nutrients like melatonin, tryptophan, potassium, and magnesium, which are also ideal for nighttime snacking.3 1. Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024 Of course, this is highly dependent on your type of spill, daytime and nighttime temperatures, and the type of vegetation. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near nighttime

Cite this Entry

“Nighttime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nighttime. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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

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!