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's a photography that I really love and enjoy, not just bioluminescent but nighttime photography," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026

There’s really good hills and stuff to go for, like, a nice nighttime walk after dinner.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

Jackson’s lottery stoning takes place on a sunny June day, in contrast to the apocalyptic storm’s nighttime arrival on “Widow’s Bay,” forcing everyone into an underground shelter.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2026

During a nighttime field survey, researchers initially mistook the animal for a mushroom, highlighting just how convincing its disguise is.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026

He’d been sitting on the deck, watching the plankton glow on the nighttime waves.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

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