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night
/naɪt/
period of darkness after sunset
We went for a walk under the stars last night.
The example describes an activity that took place during the nighttime.
general
The time between sunset and sunrise when it is dark outside.
Bats are nocturnal animals that come out at night.
Bats are active during the night.
She works the night shift at the hospital.
She works during the hours of darkness.
Often used in contrast to 'day' or 'daytime'.
general
An evening or nighttime event or activity.
We have a book club meeting every Friday night.
The meeting occurs on Friday evenings.
Common in phrases like 'Friday night', 'tonight', 'last night'.
Collocations
good nighta phrase used when leaving or going to sleepnight and dayall the time, continuouslylate at nightduring the late hours of the night
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Using 'night' vs. 'evening'
'Night' refers to the entire period of darkness, while 'evening' typically refers to the time around sunset. For example, 'I'll see you in the evening' implies a time before full night, whereas 'I'll see you at night' could mean any time after sunset.
Gold Rule
Capitalization
Do not capitalize 'night' unless it is part of a proper noun or title (e.g., 'Night of the Living Dead').
Word Origin
From Old English 'niht', derived from Proto-Germanic '*nahts', with cognates in Old Norse 'nótt', German 'Nacht', and Dutch 'nacht'. The Proto-Indo-European root '*nekwt-' relates to night and darkness.
Usage Notes
The word 'night' can be used as a noun or in compound forms like 'nighttime' or 'nightfall'. It is often paired with adjectives such as 'cold night', 'long night', or 'peaceful night'. In some contexts, 'night' can also refer to a specific evening event, such as a 'movie night'.
Word Breakdown
night
the period of darkness after sunset
rootEnglish Dictionary