nighttime

American

[nahyt-tahym] / ˈnaɪtˌtaɪm /

noun

the time between evening and morning.

adjective

occurring, done, presented, etc., during the night, especially the hours before midnight.

Etymology

Origin of nighttime

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at night, time

Vocabulary lists containing nighttime

Unit 6, Week 5

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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.

It will be the site of an immersive nighttime show for tourists during the World Cup this summer, the Mexico state government announced earlier this month.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

It wasn’t until I read two books, both in the early 1990s, that I understood I was making my nighttime selections in such a particular way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

During the day is OK, but at nighttime, I just need to laugh.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

These findings reveal that changes in nighttime lighting are more dynamic and localized than previously understood.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

Most of the children were sleeping, though it wasn’t nighttime.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023