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night
[ nahyt ]
noun
- the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
- the beginning of this period; nightfall.
- the darkness of night; the dark.
- a condition or time of obscurity, ignorance, sinfulness, misfortune, etc.:
the long night of European history known as the Dark Ages.
- (sometimes initial capital letter) an evening used or set aside for a particular event, celebration, or other special purpose:
a night on the town; poker night; New Year's Night.
adjective
- of or relating to night:
the night hours.
- occurring, appearing, or seen at night:
a night raid; a night bloomer.
- used or designed to be used at night:
to take a night coach; the night entrance.
- working at night:
night nurse; the night shift.
- active at night:
the night feeders of the jungle.
night
/ naɪt /
noun
- the period of darkness each 24 hours between sunset and sunrise, as distinct from day
- modifier of, occurring, working, etc, at night
a night nurse
- the occurrence of this period considered as a unit
four nights later they left
- the period between sunset and retiring to bed; evening
- the time between bedtime and morning
she spent the night alone
- the weather conditions of the night
a clear night
- the activity or experience of a person during a night
- sometimes capital any evening designated for a special observance or function
- nightfall or dusk
- a state or period of gloom, ignorance, etc
- make a night of itmake a night of it to go out and celebrate for most of the night
- night and daynight and day continually
that baby cries night and day
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Derived Forms
- ˈnightˌlike, adjective
- ˈnightless, adjective
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Other Words From
- nightless adjective
- nightless·ly adverb
- nightlike adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of night1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of night1
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Idioms and Phrases
- night and day, Also day and night.
- unceasingly; continually:
She worked night and day until the job was done.
- a complete difference; completely different:
The improvement in her grades after tutoring was like night and day.
More idioms and phrases containing night
- black as night
- call it a day (night)
- dead of (night)
- different as night and day
- good night
- make a day (night) of it
- ships that pass in the night
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Example Sentences
Asked about her own regrets, Troye said that she wished she would have spoken out internally more often and that she had wrestled with many “sleepless nights” about her actions and time in the administration.
The documents do not say why the Secret Service needed rooms in Bedminster for so many nights — or why, on some nights, it needed more than usual.
This same nothingness delights us when the meadows lie quiet and full below the night sky, when the small glowing insects fall into their shadows and fade like dying stars.
He’s led the NBA in scoring average three straight years while averaging almost 34 points a night over that span and has been remarkably durable in his eight years as a No.
When she was first born, I was her night nurse for the first, like two weeks of her life.
People watch night soaps because the genre allows them to believe in a world where people just react off their baser instincts.
On Dec. 22, 1799, Sands told her cousins that she would be leaving to elope with a fellow boarder named Levi Weeks that night.
As of Thursday night, the brothers remained on the loose, last seen in northern France.
At the moment, the only chance I get is when I go do Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Are you bi-coastal now, between Portlandia and Late Night with Seth Meyers?
The night wore on, and the clock downstairs was striking the hour of two when she suddenly awakened.
Without preface, he abruptly asked, what had been told him of the Duke of Wharton's behaviour the preceding night.
Nevertheless the evening and the night passed away without incident.
While they were doing this, he assembled the officers around him, and the meaning of our night march was explained to us.
Last night I saw Jean Baptiste lying prone upon the floor, and knew that she had beaten him down to it, and he had not resisted.
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Related Words
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More About Night
What is a basic definition of night?
Night refers to the time of day between sunset and sunrise. The word night can also refer to the darkness that accompanies this period or an evening reserved for a certain event. Night can also be used as an adjective to describe something that happens at night. Night has a few other senses as a noun and an adjective.
Generally speaking, night doesn’t begin or end at any specific times. We usually consider it to be night when the sun has set completely and all sunlight is gone. Night ends when the sun rises and illuminates the sky again.
- Real-life examples: In the northern hemisphere, nights are longer during the winter and shorter during the summer. Most people go to sleep at night.
- Used in a sentence: The kids aren’t allowed outside at night because it’s too dark to see well.
Night also refers to the darkness that falls after the sun sets.
- Used in a sentence: To gaze at the stars, you need to let your eyes adjust to the night.
Night can also refer to an evening where some specific event happens or has significance.
- Real-life examples: Children go trick-or-treating on Halloween Night. A TV show might be aired every Friday night. A couple may decide to schedule a date night.
- Used in a sentence: My mom makes us go to bed early on school nights.
Night is also used to describe something that is related to night or happens during the night.
- Real-life examples: Crimes often happen during the night hours. Some people work night jobs or have night shifts at work. You can see the stars in the night sky. A person who works late might have to take the night bus home.
- Used in a sentence: I have been taking night classes because my job keeps me busy during the day.
Where does night come from?
The first records of night come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English niht and is related to other words for night, such as the Latin nox and the Greek nýx.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to night?
- nightless (adjective)
- nightlessly (adverb)
- nightlike (adjective)
What are some synonyms for night?
What are some words that share a root or word element with night?
What are some words that often get used in discussing night?
What are some words night may be commonly confused with?
How is night used in real life?
Night is a very common word that refers to the time after the sun has set.
Last night, I watched the fight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. Mike has always been one of my favorite fighters and I’m glad both he and Roy didn’t get hurt!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 30, 2020
I never understood how the little drummer boy’s parents could just send him outside alone at night to play his drum until my daughter brought a recorder home from school.
— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) December 8, 2020
I cringe inside whenever I hear somebody say they consistently work the night shift.
— Zaid K. Dahhaj (@zaiderrr) December 1, 2020
Try using night!
True or False?
If the sun is in the sky, the night hasn’t started yet.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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