night owl

noun

: a person who keeps late hours at night

Examples of night owl in a Sentence

a night owl whose spouse is more of an early bird
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But there is hope for night owls. Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025 Patsas is a local hangover remedy; most magereia—tavernas where the philosophy of sharing food was more important than any fancy methods or ingredients—serve it late, catering both to night owls and early-shift workers. Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025 Much of sleep medicine research focuses on specific problems, such as sleep apnea’s link to cognitive decline, how insomnia affects the heart or whether someone is a night owl or an early bird. Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025 The smartphone screen is visible in direct sunlight, but night owls will appreciate a front light that can be adjusted for warm/cold temperatures across 36 levels. New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for night owl

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of night owl was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Night owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20owl. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

night owl

noun
: a person who usually stays up late at night

More from Merriam-Webster on night owl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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