night

[ nahyt ]

noun

1. the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
2. the beginning of this period; nightfall.
3. the darkness of night; the dark.
4. a condition or time of obscurity, ignorance, sinfulness, misfortune, etc.:

   the long night of European history known as the Dark Ages.

5. (sometimes initial capital letter) an evening used or set aside for a particular event, celebration, or other special purpose:

   a night on the town; poker night; New Year's Night.

adjective

1. of or relating to night:

   the night hours.

2. occurring, appearing, or seen at night:

   a night raid; a night bloomer.

3. used or designed to be used at night:

   to take a night coach; the night entrance.

4. working at night:

   night nurse; the night shift.

5. active at night:

   the night feeders of the jungle.

night

/ naɪt /

noun

1. the period of darkness each 24 hours between sunset and sunrise, as distinct from day
2. modifier of, occurring, working, etc, at night

   a night nurse

3. the occurrence of this period considered as a unit

   four nights later they left

4. the period between sunset and retiring to bed; evening
5. the time between bedtime and morning

   she spent the night alone

6. the weather conditions of the night

   a clear night

7. the activity or experience of a person during a night
8. sometimes capital any evening designated for a special observance or function
9. nightfall or dusk
10. a state or period of gloom, ignorance, etc
11. make a night of it
    to go out and celebrate for most of the night
12. night and day
    continually

    that baby cries night and day

Derived Forms

• ˈnightˌlike, adjective
• ˈnightless, adjective

Other Words From

• nightless adjective
• nightless·ly adverb
• nightlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of night¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English niht, neaht; cognate with German Nacht, Gothic nahts, Latin nox (stem noct- ), Greek nýx (stem nykt- )

Word History and Origins

Origin of night¹

Old English niht; compare Dutch nacht, Latin nox, Greek nux

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. night and day, Also day and night.
   1. unceasingly; continually:

      She worked night and day until the job was done.

   2. a complete difference; completely different:

      The improvement in her grades after tutoring was like night and day.

More idioms and phrases containing night

• black as night
• call it a day (night)
• dead of (night)
• different as night and day
• good night
• make a day (night) of it
• ships that pass in the night

Example Sentences

No, that’s not a headline from The Onion, though it’s bound to be fuel for ongoing skits on “Saturday Night Live.”

From Salon

Edinburgh Zoo's baby red panda has died from stress caused by fireworks on Bonfire Night, according to veterinary experts.

From BBC

“Sync.Live” is part of IndieCade’s long-running free Night Games programming, back for the second year at downtown’s Music Center on Friday and Saturday evenings.

From Los Angeles Times

Representatives for Fineman and “Saturday Night Live” did not immediately respond Tuesday to The Times’ requests for comment.

From Los Angeles Times

The "Saturday Night Live" cast member and writer slammed Musk following his comments on the sketch comedy show's impersonation of himself and president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

From Salon

Related Words

• midnight