nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm 

often attributive

: the time from dusk to dawn

Synonyms of nighttime

• night

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

Moreover, nighttime did not bring the usual cool-down, prompting forecasters to warn that the lack of overnight recovery could cause physical stress. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Her entire nighttime setup featured a full face mask, collagen eye masks, and sheet masks along either side of her nose. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026

A number of people claimed to have met and spoken with him directly during his nighttime walks. — Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

Unfortunately, Newport Beach’s nighttime fog wasn’t particularly interested in Lovell’s theories about fresh air. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nighttime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• noontime

Kids Definition

nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm 

: 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