twilight

[ twahy-lahyt ]
See synonyms for twilight on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. a terminal period, especially after full development, success, etc.: the twilight of his life.

  2. 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.

Origin of twilight

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; twi- + light1

Other words from twilight

  • twilighty, adjective

Words Nearby twilight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use twilight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twilight

twilight

/ (ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt) /


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

  2. the period in which this light occurs

  1. 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)

  2. any faint light

  3. a period in which strength, importance, etc, are waning: the twilight of his life

  4. (modifier)

    • of or relating to the period towards the end of the day: the twilight shift

    • of or relating to the final phase of a particular era: the twilight days of the Bush presidency

    • denoting irregularity and obscurity: a twilight existence

Origin of twilight

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

Derived forms of twilight

  • twilit (ˈtwaɪˌlɪt), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012