twilight

[ twahy-lahyt ]

noun

1. the soft, diffused light lights 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 lights prevails.
3. a terminal period, especially after full development, success, etc.:

   the twilight of his life.

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

adjective

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

   in the twilight hours.

2. appearing or flying at twilight; crepuscular.

twilight

/ ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt; ˈtwaɪˌlɪt /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• twilit, adjective

Other Words From

• twilighty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twilight¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of twilight¹

C15: literally: half-light (between day and night), from Old English twi- half + light ¹

Example Sentences

The message to those vaccinated people in this twilight period of the pandemic must be that they are duty-bound to keep up precautions like wearing masks in order to protect others, as an act of social solidarity.

From Vox

By and large, the people I see at civil twilight are doing the same.

From Outside Online

Elway was in the twilight of his career, but the 37-year-old earned a Pro Bowl nod after throwing for 3,635 yards and 27 touchdowns.

From Washington Post

Starting there and working west, he’s chasing twilight, looking to hit each boy’s and girl’s home at the appropriate time.

From Science News For Students

Jones had been far more active in his twilight boxing years than Tyson, most recently fighting in 2018 when the former four-division champion scored a 10-round unanimous decision against Scott Sigmon in Jones’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla.

From Washington Post

Other shows have allowed gender and inequality to inspire some episodes: The Twilight Zone, for example.

From The Daily Beast

I do feel there is a gay sensibility in everything I do, including the Twilight movies.

From The Daily Beast

When his Twilight movies got lambasted, “that was more expected,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

“I know people thought I sold out with Twilight, but I was really excited about it,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

The original Twilight Zone is renowned for the acting careers it revived or jump started.

From The Daily Beast

It was the darkest hour of twilight, when there was just enough of gleam from the lurid sky, to shew the outline of objects.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost, he saw her visibly change—here in the twilight of the little Luxor garden by his side.

From Project Gutenberg

Seven o'clock was the hour fixed for the marriage: it would be twilight then, and dinner over.

From Project Gutenberg

In dry weather, they are now to be watered with lukewarm water softly showered upon them, between sunset and twilight.

From Project Gutenberg

We were still one league and a half from the island when the twilight ended and night came on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dusk
• sunset