nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtər-nᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
nocturnal activities
2
: active at night
a nocturnal predator
nocturnal insects, such as mosquitoes
Examples of nocturnal in a Sentence
he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy
Recent Examples on the Web
The answers are left as teasingly cryptic as the shocking outcome of that nocturnal interaction.
—
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
New nocturnal routes have launched, including a Brussels to Berlin sleeper.
—Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Cryptic green pit vipers are venomous, nocturnal and were found around a forested cave, the study said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
During the voyage the mighty ship was tossed in a violent and massive nocturnal thunderstorm and was in danger of slipping under the raging sea.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nocturnal
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Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
New nocturnal routes have launched, including a Brussels to Berlin sleeper.
—Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Cryptic green pit vipers are venomous, nocturnal and were found around a forested cave, the study said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
During the voyage the mighty ship was tossed in a violent and massive nocturnal thunderstorm and was in danger of slipping under the raging sea.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nocturnal
Cite this Entry
“Nocturnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nocturnal. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
2
: active at night
nocturnal insects
Etymology
from early French nocturnal, nocturnel or Latin nocturnalis, both meaning "nocturnal," derived from earlier Latin noct-, nox "night" — related to equinox
Medical Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring at night
nocturnal myoclonus
2
: characterized by nocturnal activity
a nocturnal form of filariasis
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