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. to go out and celebrate for most of the night

12. continually

    that baby cries night and day

Other Word Forms

• nightlike adjective
• nightless adjective
• nightlessly adverb

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

He climbed into his sleeping bag without dinner, because he knew it was more important to warm up before the cold of night descended than it was to eat.

From Los Angeles Times

Regulars at Club Underground, a decades-long British indie night now at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown, would naturally get in on the occasion.

From Los Angeles Times

Crews began taking down the 32-foot-tall sign Thursday night, starting with the “X,” as part of upcoming reconfiguration of the surrounding roads.

From Los Angeles Times

First seen cycling his city’s streets day and night with a becalmed sense of ownership, Holland’s Roger is a die-hard Brooklynite none too happy with the smoothing over of his cherished neighborhoods by “obscene” money.

From Los Angeles Times

After three months at the Y, I was walking home from dinner one night when I tripped on a crack in a sidewalk and fractured my kneecap.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• midnight 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of night?

Night refers to the time of day between sunset and sunrise. The word night can also refer to the darkness that accompanies this period or an evening reserved for a certain event. Night can also be used as an adjective to describe something that happens at night. Night has a few other senses as a noun and an adjective.Generally speaking, night doesn’t begin or end at any specific times. We usually consider it to be night when the sun has set completely and all sunlight is gone. Night ends when the sun rises and illuminates the sky again.

• Real-life examples: In the northern hemisphere, nights are longer during the winter and shorter during the summer. Most people go to sleep at night.



• Used in a sentence: The kids aren’t allowed outside at night because it’s too dark to see well.

Night also refers to the darkness that falls after the sun sets.

• Used in a sentence: To gaze at the stars, you need to let your eyes adjust to the night.

Night can also refer to an evening where some specific event happens or has significance.

• Real-life examples: Children go trick-or-treating on Halloween Night. A TV show might be aired every Friday night. A couple may decide to schedule a date night.



• Used in a sentence: My mom makes us go to bed early on school nights.

Night is also used to describe something that is related to night or happens during the night.

• Real-life examples: Crimes often happen during the night hours. Some people work night jobs or have night shifts at work. You can see the stars in the night sky. A person who works late might have to take the night bus home.



• Used in a sentence: I have been taking night classes because my job keeps me busy during the day.