night
night — noun
1. the time each day when the sky is dark because the sun has gone down, and most p
the time each day when the sky is dark because the sun has gone down, and most people rest or sleep
The night was so cold that Soraya wore two coats to walk the dog.
Liang could hear owls calling in the night from his bedroom window.
prepositional phrase: in the night
During the long Arctic night, the sun never rises for weeks on end.
The children were afraid of the dark and kept a small light on all night.
adverbial phrase: all night
A loud noise woke Saira in the middle of the night.
set phrase: in the middle of the night
- at night
- during the night
- all night
- in the middle of the night
- spend the night
- last through the night
Grammar Patterns
at night
during the night
all night
in the night
Usage Note
Use 'at night' for general statements about nighttime (owls hunt at night). Use 'during the night' or 'in the night' for specific events that happen within one night. 'All night' means the entire night period.
Common Mistakes
2. the hours after the work or school day finishes and before a person goes to slee
the hours after the work or school day finishes and before a person goes to sleep, when people typically have dinner, unwind, or do things at home
Owen usually spends Friday nights watching films or reading at home.
plural nights for habitual activity
We are having friends over for dinner tomorrow night.
Lara stays up late every night studying for her chemistry exams.
frequency phrase: every night
Paul likes to take a short walk along the river after supper each night.
The Wong family gathers around the table every night for a home-cooked meal.
every night + for + purpose
- last night
- tomorrow night
- every night
- Friday night
- spend the night
- stay up all night
- morning
the early part of the day after waking up
Grammar Patterns
on + specific evening
every night
last night / tomorrow night
Usage Note
Use 'on' before a specific named evening ('on Friday night', 'on the night of the party'). 'Last night' and 'tomorrow night' are fixed adverbial phrases that do not take a preposition.
Common Mistakes
3. an evening chosen for a specific event, activity, or celebration to take place
an evening chosen for a specific event, activity, or celebration to take place
The school held a parents' night to show student art and science projects.
compound noun: parents' night
Gabriel proposed to Élise on the night of the carnival.
pattern: the night of + event
Opening night of the play drew a large crowd to the theatre.
The museum hosts a science night for local teenagers every month.
- opening night
- movie night
- parents' night
- date night
- quiz night
- the night of
- evening
a more general term without the special-event meaning
Grammar Patterns
___ night
night of + event
Usage Note
This sense often appears in compound nouns formed with the event name (movie night, game night, karaoke night) or with 'opening' for first performances.
4. a warm, informal bedtime farewell said mainly by or to small children, often rep
a warm, informal bedtime farewell said mainly by or to small children, often repeated as 'Night, night!'
'Night, night, sleep well,' said Karim as he tucked his daughter into bed.
repeated 'night' pattern for children
Dylan whispered 'night, night' to his little brother and turned off the lamp.
'Night, night, sweet dreams!' called Sirin from the doorway of the room.
The toddler waved at her grandparents and said 'night, night' from the car seat.
said + 'night, night' as farewell
- say night night
- wish someone night night
- good night
the standard form, used in all situations
- sleep tight
an informal bedtime wish, often said after good night
Grammar Patterns
say 'Night, night!'
wish someone night
Usage Note
Almost always used in the doubled form 'Night, night!' when speaking to children. Dropping the 'good' makes it sound warmer and more informal.
5. used in fixed phrases to refer to a specific evening not long ago, without sayin
used in fixed phrases to refer to a specific evening not long ago, without saying exactly when
I bumped into Christopher at the supermarket the other night.
fixed phrase: the other night
The other night, Saira heard a strange noise coming from the garden shed.
We ran into our old neighbour, Mr. Chen, one night last week at the park.
pattern: one night + time reference
Liang told me about his trip to Japan the other night over the phone.
- the other night
- one night last week
- one night recently
- recently
broader, can refer to any time recently, not just evenings
Grammar Patterns
the other night
one night last week
Usage Note
This sense has two main fixed expressions: 'the other night' (a recent unspecified evening) and 'one night last week/month' (slightly more specific). Both function as time adverbials.
Common Mistakes
6. an evening spent away from home doing something enjoyable, such as eating at a r
an evening spent away from home doing something enjoyable, such as eating at a restaurant, watching a show, or meeting friends
The football team booked a table for a night out after winning the match.
phrase: a night out
Soraya and her colleagues planned a night out to celebrate her promotion.
A night out at the cinema is a simple pleasure Karim enjoys every month.
After weeks of exams, the students decided on a night out in the city centre.
decided on a night out
- a night out
- have a night out
- plan a night out
- night on the town
- evening out
more general, less idiomatic
- night in
an evening spent at home
Grammar Patterns
have a night out
go out for the night
a night on the town
Usage Note
Commonly appears in the phrase 'a night out' or 'a night on the town'. The opposite idea is 'a night in' (staying at home).
dance the night away
idiomTo dance for the entire evening or night.
Mia and her friends danced the night away at the wedding.
Did you dance the night away at the party last Saturday?
To sleep well or badly during the night.
After the long hike, Tom had a good night and woke up refreshed.
Did you have a bad night because of the noisy neighbors?
To stay out late enjoying yourself, often in bars or clubs.
The team had a night on the tiles after winning the championship.
Have you ever had a night on the tiles in London?
in the dead of night
idiomDuring the quietest and darkest part of the night.
The cat crept out in the dead of night to hunt.
In the dead of night, you can hear the owls hooting.
Used to say that a performance or event will be successful despite poor preparations.
Don't worry about the rehearsal; it'll be all right on the night.
The set isn't ready yet, but it'll be all right on the night.
To spend the whole day or evening enjoying a particular activity.
We went to the beach and made a day of it with a picnic.
They decided to make a night of it and saw a movie after dinner.
The morning after an evening of heavy drinking.
He woke up with a headache the morning after the party.
Drink water the morning after the night before to feel better.
Continuously or very frequently throughout the day.
The baby cries morning, noon and night.
She studies for her exams morning, noon and night.
night and day
idiomAll the time; without stopping.
The factory operates night and day to meet demand.
He worked night and day to finish the project on time.
night night
idiomA child's way of saying goodnight.
The mother kissed her son and said, 'Night night, sweetie.'
Night night, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.
a night out
idiomAn evening spent enjoying yourself away from home.
The couple had a night out at the theater.
Are you planning a night out with your colleagues this Friday?
To stay overnight at someone's home.
My daughter is spending the night with her best friend.
Did you spend the night with your grandparents last weekend?
The time during the night when it is quiet and calm.
In the still of the night, you can hear the wind blowing.
She loves to read in the still of the night.
Ghosts or supernatural things that are heard but not seen.
The old house is full of things that go bump in the night.
Children often fear things that go bump in the night.
night — exclamation
1. an expression used when parting from someone at the end of the day or when getti
an expression used when parting from someone at the end of the day or when getting ready for bed
'Good night, everyone. See you in the morning,' said the camp leader.
Good night as farewell + future reference
Lara kissed her mother on the cheek and said 'Night, Mum!' before heading upstairs.
'Good night, Gabriel. Thanks for a lovely evening,' Élise called from the taxi.
The babysitter whispered 'good night' as she quietly closed the children's bedroom door.
whispered + good night (quiet register)
- say good night
- wish someone good night
- good night kiss
- sleep well
a warmer wish before bed, often said to someone who is staying
- good morning
said when meeting someone in the morning
Grammar Patterns
Good night!
Night!
Usage Note
'Good night' is used only when LEAVING or going to sleep — never as a greeting when arriving. To greet someone in the evening, say 'Good evening' instead.
Common Mistakes
night — adjective
1. describes something that naturally belongs to or is a basic part of the night, s
describes something that naturally belongs to or is a basic part of the night, such as the air, sky, or sounds during that time
The night air felt cool and fresh against Owen's skin as he stepped outside.
collocation: night air
The night sky above the desert was filled with thousands of bright stars.
A soft night breeze carried the sweet smell of jasmine through the window.
collocation: night breeze
The night sounds of crickets and frogs filled the warm summer air.
- night air
- night sky
- night breeze
- night sounds
- night vision
- nighttime
can be used interchangeably in many contexts
Grammar Patterns
night + noun describing inherent quality
Usage Note
This sense describes qualities inherent to the night itself (air, sky, sounds). It does NOT describe scheduled events — for those, use sense 3 below.
2. designed or made to be worn or used during the night
designed or made to be worn or used during the night
Saira applied a small amount of night cream before going to sleep.
collocation: night cream
The hotel provides a night light in every room for guests who wake at night.
collocation: night light
Dylan packed his night clothes in a separate bag for the school trip.
collocation: night clothes
The baby's night lamp cast a soft warm glow across the nursery.
- night cream
- night light
- night clothes
- night lamp
- night gown
Grammar Patterns
night + noun (product designed for night)
Usage Note
Common in product names (night cream, night light) and clothing (night clothes, nightgown, nightshirt). The noun 'night' here acts like an adjective describing the product's purpose.
3. describes an event, service, or job that is scheduled to happen or operate durin
describes an event, service, or job that is scheduled to happen or operate during the night
Liang works the night shift at the city hospital every other week.
collocation: night shift
The night train from Vienna arrives at the station just before dawn.
A night flight to Tokyo departs from this gate at eleven o'clock.
collocation: night flight
The night bus runs every thirty minutes along the main road.
collocation: night bus
- night shift
- night train
- night flight
- night bus
- night school
- night class
- nightly
means 'happening every night', not just 'happening at night'
- day
as in day shift, day train
Grammar Patterns
night + noun (scheduled activity)
Usage Note
Distinguish from the 'RELATING TO NIGHT' sense (adj/1): this sense is about scheduled activities (night shift, night flight), not inherent qualities (night air, night sky).
4. describes a living creature or person that is active or works mainly during the
describes a living creature or person that is active or works mainly during the night rather than the day
Owls are night hunters that catch mice and other small animals in the dark.
collocation: night hunter
Christopher is a night person who does his best work after midnight.
collocation: night person
Bats are night creatures that use sound waves to find their way.
collocation: night creature
The night guard makes a full round of the building every two hours.
collocation: night guard
- night hunter
- night person
- night creature
- night guard
- night owl
- nocturnal
formal term for animals active at night
Grammar Patterns
night + noun (creature or person)
Usage Note
This sense overlaps with adj/3 ('night guard' could be either a scheduled job or a person active at night). The distinction is whether the focus is on the schedule (adj/3) or the nature of the being (adj/4). For animals, use adj/4; for transport, use adj/3.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Night' is the most common word for the period when the sun is down and it is dark outside. 'Nighttime' is slightly more formal and often used as a noun or adjective to contrast with 'daytime' (nighttime activities, nighttime temperatures). 'Darkness' focuses on the absence of light rather than a time period; you can have darkness in a cave during the day, but you cannot have night there. 'Dusk' refers to the brief transition period when daylight fades into night, not the whole night. For example: 'Owls hunt at night' (the whole dark period). 'The darkness in the basement was complete even at noon.' 'We walked home at dusk, just as the streetlights came on.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- night shift
- night school
- night sky
- night air
- night train
- night bus
- night flight
Adverbs
- late at night
- early in the night
- all night long
- deep into the night
Phrases
- night and day
- day and night
- all night long
- the night before
- in the dead of night
- night after night
Prepositions
- at night
- during the night
- by night
- through the night
- into the night
- on ... night
Etymology
The word 'night' comes from Old English 'niht', which has roots in Proto-Germanic '*nahts' and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European '*nókʷts', meaning 'night'. This ancient root appears in many languages: German 'Nacht', Dutch 'nacht', Latin 'nox' (genitive 'noctis'), Greek 'νύξ' (nyx), and Sanskrit 'नक्तम्' (naktam). The basic meaning has stayed remarkably stable for thousands of years.