Definition of nightfallnext
as in night
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness since you aren't taking a flashlight, make sure you're back at camp by nightfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nightfall The sun will rise later, and nightfall will arrive earlier, making days feel shorter and nights longer. — Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026 By nightfall, the protests turned violent, people hurling bricks and taking down the American flag in favor of the Confederate colors. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 By nightfall, nearly 3,000 people were dead in lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon and in a field outside Shanksville, Pa. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 The Draconids are best viewed in the evening in the Northern Hemisphere, as the Draco the Dragon constellation appears highest in the sky at nightfall, per EarthSky. — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightfall
Noun
  • The majority of his night was spent scrambling from a Seahawks defense that pressures the quarterback at the third-highest rate in the league.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Shai-Gilgeous Alexander scored 34 points, Ajay Mitchell had 18 off the bench, and the Oklahoma City Thunder stayed undefeated with a 108-101 victory over the Clippers on Sunday night.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Binoculars will give you a superb view at dusk, particularly along the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and night.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Just before dusk, four or five does walked under the tree, and then a four-point buck followed, stopping beneath me to rub his antlers on a bush.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The ledge is in the Ramsey Cliff area of Macon County, and volunteers from the Pisgah Climbing School pulled off the dangerous rescue after sunset on Monday.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Winds will become light and variable overnight, allowing temperatures to cool efficiently after sunset.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Not so much because the 37-year-old Kelce is revitalized in his twilight years.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, in 1986, many of the largest cities were bathed in permanent twilight, with only the brightest stars and planets visible from near city centers and with astronomically unacceptable conditions up to 50 miles (80 km) away.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Italians have their evening passeggiata, and Spaniards practice the splendid art of the tapear, hopping from tapas joint to tapas joint in search of satisfaction and tipsiness.
    — Gary Shteyngart, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
  • That same evening, officers found a coyote in the area where the child was bitten, then trapped and euthanized it.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nightfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightfall. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster