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
The race begins at dusk and finishes in the darkness under floodlights. Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Her parents were struggling farmers, working the fields of North County from dawn to dusk. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 For this garden, the dining experience was a focal point and intended to be enjoyed from late afternoon through dusk. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 At dusk, several dozen lemon sharks rose from the depths and surrounded the dive boat. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024 After dusk on a frosty evening at the Central Park Zoo, someone shredded the mesh on an enclosure that was home to a Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco. Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024 The festival starts each day at dusk and wraps up at sunrise. Katie Bain, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2024 At dusk, several dozen lemon sharks rose from the depths and surround the dive boat. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Standing in a small cafe after dusk, Denys held the phone in his hand as the majority leader thanked him for his service. Kostiantyn Khudov, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dusk

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dusk

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