twilight

noun

twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt 

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

• dark
• dusk
• shadows
• night
• darkness
• blackness
• black
• gloom

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

In the twilight of the twentieth century, with the shadows of history all around, Ligeti cleared the stage for an infinite musical future. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Any impacts will be subtle but visually noticeable, especially around peak twilight hours. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 June 2026

During totality, daylight fades into twilight, temperatures drop, bright planets appear, and the sun’s delicate outer atmosphere — the corona — becomes visible to the naked eye. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

The collection features shades of purple and lavender, symbolizing the signature twilight sky after the sun sets on those long summer days at the park and the fireworks begin, twinkling like pixie dust above the castle. — Tiffany Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing twilight

• twilight glow
• twilight world
• twilight zone

Rhymes for twilight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

twilight

noun

twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt 

: the period or the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night