dusk

1 of 3

adjective

: dusky
beginning to grow dusk outside

dusk

2 of 3

verb

dusked; dusking; dusks

intransitive verb

: to become dark
the dusking room

transitive verb

: to make dark or gloomy
a gray light dusked the roomWilliam Sansom
… his … formality dusked by the saturnine mood of ill health.Herman Melville

dusk

3 of 3

noun

1
: the darker part of twilight especially at night
The park closes at dusk.
2
: darkness or semidarkness caused by the shutting out of light

Examples of dusk in a Sentence

Adjective under a dusk sky, the campers wearily bedded down for the night Verb the grief-stricken woman continued to sit in the dusking room until she was completely enveloped in darkness Noun The park closes at dusk. we stopped playing at dusk, since it was getting too dark to see the ball
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
When the summer heat creeps to unbearable temperatures, pre-dawn and post-dusk become the most appealing times to run. Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 Mylar space blankets draped across their shoulders glistened a surreal golden hue as the vessel’s blinding strobe lights illuminated the post-dusk spectacle. Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2021 Forgive me for skipping dinner, but my pre-dusk meals were simply not going to be outshone. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 22 Aug. 2021 The park is open 8 a.m. to dusk year-round, while the information and gift center is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. now through Thanksgiving and vary with the season. oregonlive, 14 Mar. 2020 Waiting to hear After dusk Wednesday, buses began to arrive at the plant to return some of the immigrants after processing. Author: Jenny Jarvie, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2019 On July 4, Elitch Gardens will offer a dusk fireworks display visible from the surrounding areas, and The Denver Outlaws game at Mile High Stadium (against the Boston Cannons) on July 4 will also be followed by fireworks. John Wenzel, The Know, 24 June 2019
Noun
From Sunday through Thursday, quotations about democracy — selected by Holzer and dating back to ancient times — will be beamed onto the exteriors of the Hirshhorn and the National Museum of American History from dusk to 11 p.m. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023 On a recent muggy evening in Limón, as dusk fell on the coastline, two police trucks crept onto the beach, directing their headlights onto choppy waves. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 The Northwestern Mutual Community Park — one of the state's most inclusive playgrounds — will be open until dusk during beer and cocktail garden hours, the news release noted. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 5 Sep. 2023 At dusk, we were escorted to the front of the stage, drinks in hand, and fully enveloped ourselves in the star attractions of the night: Janelle Monae and Lamar. Barry Samaha, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023 The ruby wine shade is reminiscent of the falling crimson leaves, while the blue-navy mirrors the misty gray clouds that paint the sky at dusk. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2023 In the fading dusk, an investigator arrives with a flashlight to examine the scene. Nathan Burstein, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2023 The event will include a parade, food trucks, beverage garden, live music, a kids’ zone and fireworks at dusk. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 21 Aug. 2023 Avoid taking a dip at dawn and dusk, when sharks typically feed, and stay away from areas where seals or schools of fish are present, or where seabirds are diving. The Week Staff, The Week, 19 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dusk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Noun

Middle English dosk, alteration of Old English dox; akin to Latin fuscus dark brown, Old English dunn dun, dūst dust

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusk was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dusk

Cite this Entry

“Dusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusk. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

dusk

noun
ˈdəsk
1
: the darker part of twilight especially at night
2
: partial darkness

More from Merriam-Webster on dusk

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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