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

One study found that while two-thirds of the general population claim to be night owls, their chances of success are much slimmer than those of morning people. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 July 2026

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

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