twilight

American  

[twahy-lahyt] / ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt /

noun

1. the soft, diffused light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, either from daybreak to sunrise or, more commonly, from sunset to nightfall.

2. the period in the morning or, more commonly, in the evening during which this light prevails.

3. a terminal period, especially after full development, success, etc..

   the twilight of his life.

4. a state of uncertainty, vagueness, or gloom.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; obscure.

   in the twilight hours.

2. appearing or flying at twilight; crepuscular.

twilight British  

/ ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt, ˈtwaɪˌlɪt /

noun

1. the soft diffused light occurring when the sun is just below the horizon, esp following sunset

2. the period in which this light occurs

3. the period of time during which the sun is a specified angular distance below the horizon (6°, 12°, and 18° for civil twilight , nautical twilight , and astronomical twilight , respectively)

4. any faint light

5. a period in which strength, importance, etc, are waning

   the twilight of his life

6. (modifier)

   1. of or relating to the period towards the end of the day

      the twilight shift

   2. of or relating to the final phase of a particular era

      the twilight days of the Bush presidency

   3. denoting irregularity and obscurity

      a twilight existence

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Other Word Forms

• twilighty
  adjective
• twilit
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of twilight

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; twi- + light ¹

Explanation

The time just after sunset, when the light is half-faded, but the world is not yet totally dark, is twilight. If you are between two states, like asleep and awake, that can also be called a twilight moment. Twilight comes just before the night falls. The early light, just before sunrise, is also technically called "twilight" but most people call it "dawn." The prefix twi- might be a clue that twilight happens twice a day, or it could mean "half," as in the half-light of this time. Something that is declining can be described as twilight — like the twilight of the trend of wearing plastic clogs favored by nurses and chefs.

Example Sentences

“The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” Paul McCartney’s twenty-seventh post-Beatles studio album, is the portrait of an artist in his twilight, a rich assortment of storytelling and nostalgia befitting the world’s greatest living songwriter.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

Should I find a wife for my twilight years?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

With each instructive and poetic chapter, she shows us how time used to be measured by birdsong and flower bud, the color of twilight and the wide wheel of stars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Despite both men being into the twilight of their careers, Fury remains unfazed by Joshua's recent activity.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

In part, the bonding occurred because the correspondence of their twilight years permitted both sages to confront and argue out their different notions of the history they had lived and made together.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• dusk
• sunset