nocturnal

adjective

noc·tur·nal näk-ˈtər-nᵊl

Synonyms of nocturnal next

: of, relating to, or occurring in the night

a nocturnal journey

nocturnal activities

: active at night

a nocturnal predator

nocturnal insects, such as mosquitoes

nocturnally

näk-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē

adverb

Example Sentences

he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy

Recent Examples on the Web Sol suffers from vampirism, and has been sleeping in his office to avoid the punishing sun, and his nocturnal lifestyle makes dating a real challenge. —

Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 21 July 2022 While there is limited data available on the populations of nocturnal and bioluminescent insects, researchers around the world have observed the declining presence of insects such as fireflies. —

Shreya Sharma, Quartz, 24 June 2022 For instance, ungulates, such as bison, and coyotes are generally crepuscular, or most active at dusk and dawn, whereas alligators are diurnal and nocturnal. —

Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 Southeast Asia's tarsiers retain many early mammalian traits, including acute hearing and a generally nocturnal lifestyle. —

Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2018 Coyotes are nocturnal animals and are not usually comfortable around people, making recent incidents unusual, Idaho Fish and Game said. —

Teddy Grant, ABC News, 31 Jan. 2023 The Milwaukee County Zoo's small mammals building has an area dedicated to nocturnal animals. —

Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023 Tamanduas are primarily nocturnal animals that can eat up to 9,000 ants in one day, Cincinnati Zoo experts shared. —

Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2023 Since then researchers, hobby divers and photographers have gone out to scuba dive at night and observe these nocturnal creatures. —

Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 8 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nocturnal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French nocturnel, borrowed from Late Latin nocturnālis "for night use," from Latin nocturnus "of or occurring at night" (from noct-, nox night entry 1 + -urnus, temporal suffix, as in diurnus "of the day") + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at journal