Daylight

/ˈdeɪlaɪt/

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The natural illumination provided by the sun during the day.

/ˈdeɪlaɪt/

nounneutralBeginner
General

The light of the sun during the day.

The hikers started their journey at daylight.

💡 Simply: It's the time when the sun is up and shining, so you can see everything around you! Like when you go outside to play or walk to school.

👶 For kids: The light from the sun during the day.

More Examples

2

We need to finish the project before daylight fades.

3

The plants thrive in direct daylight.

How It's Used

General

"The birds sing at the break of daylight."

Astronomy

"The amount of daylight varies throughout the year due to the Earth's tilt."

2

To expose something to public view or scrutiny, often something hidden or secret.

/ˈdeɪlaɪt/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To bring into the light; expose to scrutiny.

The journalist's investigation daylit the company's unethical practices.

💡 Simply: To reveal something hidden, like uncovering a secret or a problem.

👶 For kids: To show something secret.

More Examples

2

She wanted to daylight her true feelings to him.

3

The scandal threatened to daylight the politician's past.

How It's Used

Figurative

"The investigation aimed to daylight corruption within the company."

Tip:Like bringing something hidden into the day's light.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Idioms & expressions

in broad daylight

Openly and publicly; in plain view of everyone.

"The robbery happened in broad daylight, making the police more concerned."

make daylight saving time

adjusting clocks, usually in the spring and fall.

"we had to make daylight saving time."

From Middle English *daylight*, from *day* + *light*. The term has been used since the late 14th century.

Used since the late 14th century, initially referring to the light of the day.

Memory tip

Think of the time you can see because of the sun.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"day"

broad daylightartificial daylightnatural daylightdaylight saving time

Common misspellings

day liteday-light

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written