moonrise

American

[moon-rahyz] / ˈmunˌraɪz /

noun

the rising of the moon above the horizon.
the time at which the moon rises above the horizon.

moonrise British

/ ˈmuːnˌraɪz /

noun

the moment when the moon appears above the horizon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of moonrise

First recorded in 1720–30; moon + (sun)rise

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 tends to look its most impressive when closest to the horizon at moonrise which occurs at different times across the UK, including:

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

A few days after the next full moon on November 5, the Taurids should again be visible in the evening sky before moonrise.

From Science Daily • Oct. 31, 2025

The moonrise turning Didi and Gogo into black, ghostly silhouettes is one such touch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 29, 2025

The app also tracks the moon phases and daily timing of moonrise, moonset and galactic center visibility.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2023

On the moonrise when the coat was finished and she was trying to slip it on Tornait, she heard in the distance the crackle of feet on the ice.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

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