nightfall

noun

ˈnīt-ˌfȯl How to pronounce nightfall (audio)
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

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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 Carys, who camped at our lunch spot that evening, told us later that the bass came to the surface and bashed surface plugs near nightfall. — Hank Bradshaw, Outdoor Life, 24 June 2026 Prevent snails and slugs by watering your plants in the morning so the soil dries before nightfall. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026 Crews stayed on scene until nightfall to monitor and extinguish hot spots. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026 There were no major reports of violence by nightfall after two days of heavy Israeli strikes and exchanges of fire with Hezbollah, Reuters reported on Sunday. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightfall
  1. night
  2. dusk
  3. sunset
  4. twilight
  5. evening
Noun
  • Harry Styles ended his record-breaking 12-night run in London on a memorable note.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026
  • These Wednesday night dinner ideas will fuel your family and help everyone get through the rest of the week.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
Definition of night
Noun
  • In the early evening, just before dusk, the sun peeks through the trees and warms the bench.
    — Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Each light fully charges in about five hours of direct sunlight, then automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn for an effortless set-it-and-forget-it operation.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of dusk
Noun
  • With summer now in full swing, these are the places to book for long lunches, sunset drinks and memorable meals outdoors.
    — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Insider tip At sunset, order a canelazo and head to the rooftop terrace.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of sunset
Noun
  • Venus is still with us though, and is the brightest star-like object in the sky this month, popping out in the low western twilight very soon after sunset and slipping below the horizon not long after evening twilight ends.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
  • However, nights remain short for observers in the northern hemisphere and lingering twilight could make auroras harder to spot.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of twilight
Noun
  • The twin quakes struck Venezuela on June 24 and by the evening of the next day, the Los Angeles County team of 73 crew members, six canine teams and 80,000 pounds of equipment were on their way to March Air Force Base in Riverside.
    — Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening local time to meet the country’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, SANA said, marking the first official visit by a Western leader to the country since the fall of the Assad regime in December, 2024.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of evening

Browse Nearby Words

nightdresses
nightfall
nightfalls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nightfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightfall. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nightfall

Nglish: Translation of nightfall for Spanish Speakers

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