twilight

noun

twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt 

often attributive

1

: the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night produced by diffusion of sunlight through the atmosphere and its dust

also : a time of twilight

2

a

: an intermediate state that is not clearly defined

lived in the twilight of neutrality

—Newsweek

b

: a period of decline

Synonyms

• dark
• dusk
• shadows
• night
• darkness
• blackness
• black
• gloom
• midnight

Examples of twilight in a Sentence

The sun set and twilight fell.

stumbled around the twilight of the shuttered room, unable to see where she was going

Recent Examples on the Web

How to view planet alignment 2025 Planet parades must be observed during twilight between dawn and sunset so a glowing sky does not obscure the view. —Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Amidst the urban twilight, two friends take photos at one of the last New York City phone booths when the phone begins to ring. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 June 2025

So, from mid-northern latitudes, the duration of evening twilight is longer by about 30 minutes. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 June 2025

This is twilight music, played at the edge of grief and grace. —Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing twilight

• twilight glow
• twilight world
• twilight zone

Rhymes for twilight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

twilight

noun

twi·​light ˈtwī-ˌlīt 

: the period or the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night