sundown

American  

[suhn-doun] / ˈsʌnˌdaʊn /

noun

1. sunset, especially the time of sunset.

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verb (used without object)

1. Psychiatry. (especially of dementia patients) to experience confusion or hallucinations late in the day or at night, likely as a result of strange surroundings, drug effects, decreased sensory input, or reduction of oxygen supply to the brain.

sundown British  

/ ˈsʌnˌdaʊn /

noun

1. another name for sunset

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Etymology

Origin of sundown

First recorded in 1610–20; sun + down ¹

Example Sentences

“If the conflict abates by Monday sundown, coinciding with the start of the Jewish holiday Purim, the oil price spike could prove short-lived,” Kaneva wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

His daily broadcasts last from sunrise to sundown, and they often eclipse a million cumulative viewers.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

Just after sundown, I arrived at the 602-room Fairmont Monte Carlo, cantilevered over the Mediterranean for superb sea views.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

For director of photography Alex Ashe, the decision to set Hujar and Rosenkrantz’s discussion from morning through sundown was “the revelation that kind of unlocked the film for us,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

‘After sundown, I reckon. And he’s gone off. Says he’s hungry.’

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Related Words

• dusk