nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm 

often attributive

: the time from dusk to dawn

Synonyms

• night

Examples of nighttime in a Sentence

The animal hunts in the nighttime.

before electricity, gas lamps were used for illumination during the nighttime

Recent Examples on the Web

The right diapers and creams are a godsend for cleanup, while easy-to-wipe down changing pads and diaper pails make nighttimes a little more seamless. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025

So what might happen to their daily and seasonal rhythms, already so strictly determined by light and dark, if a brief nighttime suddenly occurred during the day? —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025

Waking up feeling backed up and bloated is no fun, but simple nighttime habits can set you up for smoother mornings and regular bowel movements. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025

Bright nighttime skies are on the way in Michigan as the year's first full supermoon will rise in the sky Monday, astronomers say. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nighttime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• noontime

Kids Definition

nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm 

: the time from dusk to dawn

nighttime adjective

Legal Definition

nighttime

noun

night·​time

1

: the time from dusk to dawn

2

: a statutorily set period usually beginning shortly after dusk and ending shortly after dawn