noun
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obsolete a tramp, esp one who seeks food and lodging at sundown when it is too late to work
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nautical a strict ship's officer
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informal an alcoholic drink taken at sunset
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slang a lazy sheepdog
Etymology
Origin of sundowner
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.
And Santa Barbara County could see gusty sundowner winds on Saturday and Sunday evening, according to the weather service.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
It was the so-called "sundowner" moment, when people sit and have a drink at the end of the day, watching the sky turn orange and red as the sun disappears over the horizon.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2022
End a day of wildlife explorations in Placencia with a proper sundowner at either Tipsy Tuna for chicken wings and karaoke, or Barefoot Beach Bar for burgers and live music.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 14, 2021
After sparking Monday afternoon, the Alisal fire grew hundreds of acres within hours as sundowner winds moved in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2021
I mention this merely to show with what waste of energy the so-called sundowner often hunts for work, particularly if he happens to be the victim of any physical infirmity.
From Such Is Life by Furphy, Joseph
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.
