Nightfall
ˈnaɪtfɔːl
Definitions
The time of day when the evening begins; the coming of darkness.
ˈnaɪtfɔːl
The time when night begins; dusk.
We enjoyed a quiet picnic at nightfall.
💡 Simply: Nightfall is like when the sun goes down and it starts getting dark. It's the time when the night starts!
👶 For kids: Nightfall is when the day turns into night!
More Examples
The hikers made camp before nightfall.
The town lights up beautifully at nightfall.
The story had a spooky atmosphere, especially at nightfall.
How It's Used
"The birds sing loudest at nightfall."
"As nightfall approached, the shadows lengthened dramatically."
Idioms & expressions
at nightfall
During the time of nightfall; when night begins.
"We set out for our journey at nightfall."
From Middle English *nightfall* ('the coming of night'), combining 'night' and 'fall' (referring to the act of night descending).
Historically, nightfall was often a significant time, marking the end of work and the beginning of evening activities.
Memory tip
Imagine the sun *falling* below the horizon, marking *nightfall*.
Word Origin
"Night (niht) + fall (feallan), literally referring to the falling of night or the time when night descends."