# nightfall

/ˈnaɪtˌfɔɫ/ (US) · /nˈaɪtfɔːl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nightfall
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the time of day when it starts to get dark and night begins.

For teachers: the onset of darkness at the end of the day; the transition from twilight to night.

## Examples

- We should try to reach the camp before nightfall.
- The hikers quickened their pace as nightfall approached, hoping to find the trail marker before the light faded completely.
- The ancient city gates were traditionally locked at nightfall to protect the inhabitants from nocturnal threats, a practice that continued well into the nineteenth century.

## Usage notes

- Often follows the preposition 'at' or 'before'.

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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.