night owl

American  

[nahyt oul] / ˈnaɪt ˌaʊl /

noun

Informal.

1. a person who often stays up late at night; nighthawk.

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night owl British  

noun

1. informal a person who is or prefers to be up and about late at night

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night owl Idioms  

1. A person who habitually stays up late and is active at night, as in You can call her after midnight, for she's a night owl. This colloquial term, originally used in the late 1500s for an owl that is active at night, was transferred to nocturnal human beings in the mid-1800s.

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Etymology

Origin of night owl

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Then the night owl can get out of bed and continue on with his or her evening.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

"Instead of being a morning lark you're going to become more of a night owl," Casement explained.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Mom was the consummate night owl, accomplishing her best work well after midnight.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2024

Rick Miramontez is both a night owl and an early bird.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2024

The woman was not, as Mama said, a lark, but more a night owl.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland