night owl

noun

: a person who keeps late hours at night

Synonyms of night owl

• nighthawk

Examples of night owl in a Sentence

a night owl whose spouse is more of an early bird

Recent Examples on the Web

Three of the five subtypes were different flavors of night owls, and two were early birds—each with a grab bag of different properties. — Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 July 2026

Daily habits like getting morning sunlight and following a consistent sleep schedule can help night owls feel more alert. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 19 June 2026

Or that night owls suffer more cognitive decline than early risers. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

Most stay open until midnight, making Taipei a dream for night owls and late-shift snackers alike. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for night owl

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

night owl

noun

: a person who usually stays up late at night