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.

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

Its most popular event — a full moon hike capped with yoga, a sound bath and stargazing — happens every month, timed to the moonrise, and often it draws dozens of newcomers.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2025

Diana Houston said she got "nippy fingers" as she took this picture of moonrise at Loch an Eilein near Aviemore on Boxing Day.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2023

The sight of them did nothing to encourage Vervain’s party, who were reluctant to dig and made little headway during the darkness before moonrise.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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