1
: a cloth cap worn with nightclothes
2
: a usually alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day
3
: the final race or contest of a day's sports
especially
: the second game of a baseball doubleheader
Examples of nightcap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the Sunday nightcap, the Sam Houston-Tulane winner will play the Oregon State-LSU loser in an elimination game, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Broadcast details for the nightcap have not yet been determined.
—
Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 4 June 2023
The nightcap of day 1 of the Mullins Tournament – named in honor of Doug Mullins, a former coach at both schools – should be a solid matchup.
—Matt Doherty, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023
Friday night in the nightcap of the 10th Honor Bowl, Cathedral Catholic ran into another buzz saw, hanging with, but finally falling to Phoenix Brophy College Prep, 31-21.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Guests here will also find ultra-chic accommodations, including the Villa Medici Presidential Suite, which comes with a separate living area and office flooded with light thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows and a full bar for a nightcap.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2023
From Saturday brunch to family dinners with the kids to date nights without the kids to happy hour drinks and nightcaps to coffee and a croissant on the commute to networking power lunches, the typical Ted's customer comes in multiple times a week for different reasons and with new people.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023
For a nightcap, head to the hotel’s cheerful roof deck for a spritz and sweeping views of the Newport harbor.
—Vogue, 24 July 2023
Vestavia Hills took no chances in the nightcap as the Rebels scored four runs in the opening inning and chased Spain Park starter Chris Gross after one complete inning.
—Evan Dudley, al, 6 May 2023
After dinner, unwind with a nightcap at the bar or head up to your room, with its plush bed, coastal furnishings, and turntable. 09 Breakfast at Renaud's Patisserie in Santa Barbara In the morning, head over to Renaud's Patisserie, a Santa Barbara institution just a short drive from the Leta.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2023
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Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 4 June 2023
The nightcap of day 1 of the Mullins Tournament – named in honor of Doug Mullins, a former coach at both schools – should be a solid matchup.
—Matt Doherty, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023
Friday night in the nightcap of the 10th Honor Bowl, Cathedral Catholic ran into another buzz saw, hanging with, but finally falling to Phoenix Brophy College Prep, 31-21.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Guests here will also find ultra-chic accommodations, including the Villa Medici Presidential Suite, which comes with a separate living area and office flooded with light thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows and a full bar for a nightcap.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2023
From Saturday brunch to family dinners with the kids to date nights without the kids to happy hour drinks and nightcaps to coffee and a croissant on the commute to networking power lunches, the typical Ted's customer comes in multiple times a week for different reasons and with new people.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023
For a nightcap, head to the hotel’s cheerful roof deck for a spritz and sweeping views of the Newport harbor.
—Vogue, 24 July 2023
Vestavia Hills took no chances in the nightcap as the Rebels scored four runs in the opening inning and chased Spain Park starter Chris Gross after one complete inning.
—Evan Dudley, al, 6 May 2023
After dinner, unwind with a nightcap at the bar or head up to your room, with its plush bed, coastal furnishings, and turntable. 09 Breakfast at Renaud's Patisserie in Santa Barbara In the morning, head over to Renaud's Patisserie, a Santa Barbara institution just a short drive from the Leta.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nightcap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of nightcap was
in the 14th century
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Cite this Entry
“Nightcap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nightcap. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
nightcap
noun
night·cap
ˈnīt-ˌkap 
1
: a cap worn with nightclothes
2
: a drink taken at bedtime
3
: the final race or contest of a day's sports activities
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