nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtər-nᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
nocturnal activities
2
: active at night
a nocturnal predator
nocturnal insects, such as mosquitoes
Examples of nocturnal in a Sentence
he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy
Recent Examples on the Web
The nocturnal animal might be seen wandering aimlessly in daylight or standing on its hind legs, seemingly unbothered by humans and other animals.
—
Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
The same year that Joker used the Waynes as representatives of the evil one percent, Robert Pattinson was cast as a younger goth version of Gotham’s nocturnal prodigal son in Matt Reeves’s The Batman, of which The Penguin is a spinoff.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
These include their nocturnal lifestyle and their strong odor.
Smart and friendly, the world’s largest rodent (weighing more than 100 pounds) is social and gentle.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The boy tries to warn his family about his nocturnal premonitions, but when nobody takes him seriously, the boy must face the beast on his own.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nocturnal 
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Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
The same year that Joker used the Waynes as representatives of the evil one percent, Robert Pattinson was cast as a younger goth version of Gotham’s nocturnal prodigal son in Matt Reeves’s The Batman, of which The Penguin is a spinoff.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
These include their nocturnal lifestyle and their strong odor.
Smart and friendly, the world’s largest rodent (weighing more than 100 pounds) is social and gentle.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The boy tries to warn his family about his nocturnal premonitions, but when nobody takes him seriously, the boy must face the beast on his own.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nocturnal
Dictionary Entries Near nocturnal
Cite this Entry
“Nocturnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nocturnal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
2
: active at night
nocturnal insects
Etymology
from early French nocturnal, nocturnel or Latin nocturnalis, both meaning "nocturnal," derived from earlier Latin noct-, nox "night" — related to equinox
Medical Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring at night
nocturnal myoclonus
2
: characterized by nocturnal activity
a nocturnal form of filariasis
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