dusk
1 Americannoun
-
the state or period of partial darkness between day and night; the dark part of twilight.
-
partial darkness; shade; gloom.
She was barely visible in the dusk of the room.
adjective
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
twilight or the darker part of twilight
-
poetic gloom; shade
adjective
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dusk1
First recorded in 1615–25; back formation from dusky
Origin of dusk2
before 1000; Middle English duske (adj.), dusken (v.); metathetic alteration of Old English dox dusky, doxian to turn dark; cognate with L. fuscus dark
Explanation
Dusk is the period of time between sunset and nightfall. Many parents allow their children to roam freely in their neighborhood as long as they are home by dusk. For some, dusk is seen as a mysterious, almost magical time, serving as the bridge between the brightness of day and the darkness of night. The English language contains numerous synonyms for dusk including crepuscule, evenfall, and gloaming. Owing perhaps to the mystical qualities associated with dusk, these words are better suited for poetry than for daily use.
Vocabulary lists containing dusk
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The Circuit
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
Fireflies at dusk, flitting around outdoor gatherings as cousins trade jokes with a friendly, rough-and-tumble edge.
From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026
She spends eight hours a day working in a factory without a fan, only to return at dusk to stifling heat at home.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
You can reduce your risk by not swimming at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active, staying close to shore and swimming in groups, said Dodd.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
Once they’re in our grip, we hum on pleasant nervous energy all weekend, watching the sky turn lilac at dusk, eating Taiwanese takeout from around the corner, wondering when things will return to normal.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
It was just creeping into dusk when he fell asleep, which means—what time is it?
From "Clean Getaway" 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.
