crepuscular
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; indistinct.
-
Zoology. appearing or active in the twilight, as certain bats and insects.
adjective
-
of or like twilight; dim
-
(of certain insects, birds, and other animals) active at twilight or just before dawn
Etymology
Origin of crepuscular
First recorded in 1660–70; crepuscule + -ar 1
Explanation
The adjective crepuscular describes anything that's related to twilight, like the crepuscular glow of the dimming light on a lake as darkness falls. If the light outside is fading, you can call it crepuscular. Anything that resembles dusk, or happens at that time of day, is crepuscular, whether it's gloomy indoor light or the sky at twilight. Some animals are also crepuscular: they tend to be most active in the evening. The Latin root word says it all — crepusculum means "twilight."
Vocabulary lists containing crepuscular
There's A Word for That
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Celestial Words To Mark The Winter Solstice
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Lights Out: Synonyms for "Dark"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jared A. Sayeg’s crepuscular lighting and Kate Bergh’s humanizing costumes lend contrast and texture to the world-building scenic design.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026
The catalog’s full-page reproductions, in spectacular colors or crepuscular monochromes, are frequently transporting.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
Over on YouTube, their crepuscular 2005 album track Take Me Somewhere Nice has been streamed 85 million times.
From BBC • Jan. 28, 2025
The wolf ignites a crepuscular uncertainty about what’s fact and what’s fable, about how to differentiate between bared teeth and lolling tongue.
From Washington Post • Feb. 23, 2023
And Daddy is smiling like he’s feeling the sun on his skin after a lifetime in a crepuscular cave.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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.
