nighttime

noun

night·​time ˈnīt-ˌtīm 

often attributive

: the time from dusk to dawn

Synonyms of nighttime

• 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

Now, our technology may be on the doorstep of turning nighttime to day. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026

With many fearful for their safety as US bombs fell from Iran’s nighttime skies with no warning, there was far more open hostility on the street. — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Viewing instructions for Epic Universe theme park’s new nighttime spectacular could well be to look up, down and all around. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

When nighttime falls, the game’s friendly parkgoers turn into zombies and ghosts who chase the park ranger, armed with nothing but a Frisbee deployed by the keyboard’s space bar. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 9 July 2026

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