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 Russians also use drones to hit vehicles, which means injured soldiers sometimes have to wait until nighttime, when it's considered marginally safer to drive from the front to the hospital. —Greg Myre, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025

The vehicle must also earn a good or acceptable rating in the collision avoidance areas, like pedestrian front-crash prevention technology test for daytime and nighttime driving as well as its headlights on all trim levels. —Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025

That being said, a slight reprieve in nighttime and daytime temperatures might be at play, too. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025

Felony breaking and entering a vehicle or boat in the nighttime. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 20 Sep. 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