# daylight

/ˈdeɪˌɫaɪt/ (US) · /dˈeɪlaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/daylight
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. natural light

noun · CEFR A2

the natural light from the sun that you see during the day.

For teachers: the natural light of day, consisting of direct and indirect sunlight.

- The artist preferred to paint in natural daylight rather than using electric lamps.
- The large windows were designed to maximise the amount of daylight entering the gallery, reducing the need for artificial illumination during the summer months.

### 2. daytime

noun · CEFR B1

the period of time between the morning and the evening when it is light outside.

For teachers: the period of time between sunrise and sunset.

- We need to finish the roof while we still have enough daylight left.
- The rescue team worked through the remaining hours of daylight, knowing that the search would become significantly more difficult after dusk.

### 3. a clear difference

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a clear and obvious difference between two people, ideas, or things.

For teachers: a noticeable or significant difference, distance, or disagreement between two entities or concepts.

- There is a lot of daylight between the two political parties on this issue.
- The latest polls suggest there is now considerable daylight between the leading candidate and her closest rival, making an upset unlikely.

### 4. to provide natural light

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to design a building so that natural light can get inside.

For teachers: to provide a space with natural light through the strategic placement of windows or skylights.

- The architects decided to daylight the basement by adding a glass ceiling.
- By daylighting the interior atrium, the design team significantly improved the well-being of the office workers and reduced the building's energy consumption.

## Examples

- The room is full of natural daylight.
- The architect designed the library with large glass walls to maximize the amount of daylight reaching the reading desks.
- Effective building design prioritizes the integration of daylight to reduce reliance on artificial lighting and improve the overall well-being of the occupants.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.