Nightfall: meaning, definitions and examples

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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.