Nightfall Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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nightfall

[ˈnaɪtfɔːl ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

time of day

The time in the evening when it starts to get dark

Synonyms

dusk, sundown, twilight.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nightfall	Use 'nightfall' when referring to the time in the evening when it becomes night, emphasizing the transition from day to night. We need to get back to the campsite before nightfall At nightfall, the forest becomes quite eerie
dusk	Use 'dusk' to describe the period just after the sun sets but before it is completely dark. The children played outside until dusk The sky turned a beautiful shade of purple at dusk
twilight	Use 'twilight' for the time period between sunset and night, focusing on the soft glowing light in the sky. The stars began to appear in the twilight Twilight is my favorite time to take a walk
sundown	Use 'sundown' to specifically refer to the moment when the sun sets below the horizon. The town looks picturesque at sundown We sat on the beach, watching the sundown together

Examples of usage

I enjoy taking a walk during nightfall.
The stars are visible during nightfall.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

literary

The onset of darkness in the evening

Synonyms

dusk, sundown, twilight.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nightfall	Nightfall is used to describe the time of day when the night begins, often emphasizing the transition from day to night. We should get home before nightfall. Nightfall brought a cool breeze to the desert.
dusk	Dusk refers to the time of day just after sunset, when the sky is still light but the day is clearly ending. It's often used when there's still some light in the sky. The kids played outside until dusk. Dusk settled over the city, casting long shadows.
twilight	Twilight refers to the period of time between sunset and night when the sky is partially illuminated. It can also refer to the time just before sunrise. The garden looks magical at twilight. We took a romantic twilight stroll along the beach.
sundown	Sundown is another word for sunset, indicating the precise moment when the sun goes below the horizon. We planned a picnic to watch the sundown. The birds started to quiet down at sundown.

Examples of usage

The forest was eerie at nightfall.
The castle stood silhouetted against the nightfall.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'nightfall'

The word 'nightfall' originated from the combination of 'night' and 'fall'. It has been used in English since the late 18th century to refer to the time of day when darkness begins to occur.