Illustration of nighthawk
- nighthawk 1a
1
a
: any of a genus (Chordeiles and especially C. minor) of North American nightjars related to the whippoorwill
b
: a common European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
2
: a person who habitually is active late at night
Examples of nighthawk in a Sentence
an all-night diner that is patronized by nighthawks from every segment of society
Recent Examples on the Web
Nearby, Rodriguez is mimicking the call of a nighthawk.
—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Somewhere in the desert, nighthawks are rising from reefs of blood-red clouds.
—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Whip-poor-wills and nighthawks, for example, feed on moths and other flying insects at night, foraging when there is less competition with other species.
—
The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes,
New York Times,
18 May 2023
The opening act begins at dusk with the male making what is typically described as a series of distinct nasal peeent sounds (to me the call is more a raspy bzeeent, similar to the nighthawk’s), spaced five or six seconds apart.
—
Tom Fegely,
Field & Stream,
13 Apr. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Somewhere in the desert, nighthawks are rising from reefs of blood-red clouds.
—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Whip-poor-wills and nighthawks, for example, feed on moths and other flying insects at night, foraging when there is less competition with other species.
—
The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes,
New York Times,
18 May 2023
The opening act begins at dusk with the male making what is typically described as a series of distinct nasal peeent sounds (to me the call is more a raspy bzeeent, similar to the nighthawk’s), spaced five or six seconds apart.
—
Tom Fegely,
Field & Stream,
13 Apr. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Nighthawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nighthawk. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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