moonlight

1 of 2

noun

moon·​light ˈmün-ˌlīt How to pronounce moonlight (audio)
: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 2

verb

moonlighted; moonlighting

intransitive verb

: to hold a second job in addition to a regular one
moonlighter noun

Examples of moonlight in a Sentence

Noun A figure appeared in the moonlight. Verb She is a secretary who moonlights as a waitress on weekends.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This year, stargazers may have an especially good view of the Leonids, as very little moonlight will interfere with visibility. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023 Watching blooming plum trees, often by moonlight, as a symbol of strength, vitality and end of winter was practiced in China since antiquity. Małgorzata (gosia) K. Citko-Duplantis, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Darkness is essential for sea turtle hatchlings, as they are instinctively drawn from their nests toward the ocean by moonlight. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023 Sunday morning, gaze up for a spectacular meteor show, undisturbed by moonlight. Caroline Hetzel, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023 The camera started with a tight shot of Swift's face basking in moonlight atop the mossy roof. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024 Josie and Jim's date in the moonlight is an awkward but intense pas de deux of sweet romantic moments and clumsy emotional stumbles. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2024 SpaceX pulls off Space Coast double with moonlit Falcon Heavy, Falcon 9 flights A SpaceX Falcon Heavy stood bathed in the near full moonlight on the launch pad, and then took over the light show blasting off on the first of two missions from the Space Coast on Thursday night. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024 Since the new moon doesn’t reflect any sunlight in the night sky, this phase allows stars to shine brightly without interference from moonlight, making for peak sky watching. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Jan. 2024
Verb
Oftentimes, the employers don’t know their shared employee is moonlighting. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 This is not the strangest left turn a TV spinoff has taken, if only because Baywatch Nights — where David Hasselhoff’s lifeguard Mitch Buchanan moonlighted as a private detective, and in the second and final season began investigating paranormal mysteries — exists. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024 But Mendoza, who moonlights at a community organization and sells homemade desserts on the weekends, has struggled to afford housing. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 Included is a multi-faceted stone lid that not only covers and protects food during transport, but also moonlights as a serving tray. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024 The recent Oxford grad has past stops at Chrysalis and Parlophone, and proudly moonlights as co-chair and a founding member of Sony Music UK’s Social Justice Fund supporting anti-racist initiatives. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2024 The job proved to be a pivotal moment in her career; while out on a cruise with one of the company’s local DJs, Luna learned that one of her fellow receptionists was moonlighting as a call screener for Laboe, who had relocated his studio and offices from Hollywood to Palm Springs in 2013. Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Like many actors who scratch out a living by moonlighting in restaurants, Rapport spent much of his 20s working as a server and bartender. Jill Wendholt Silva, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 He's also moonlighted as a guest instructor for Yankees spring training. Kaitlin Stevens, Peoplemag, 7 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moonlight.' 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

Verb

back-formation from moonlighter

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moonlight was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near moonlight

Cite this Entry

“Moonlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moonlight. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

moonlight

1 of 2 noun
moon·​light -ˌlīt How to pronounce moonlight (audio)
: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 2 verb
: to work at a second job in addition to a regular one
moonlighter noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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