# nightstand

/ˈnaɪtˌstænd/ (US) · /nˈaɪtstænd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nightstand
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a small table next to a bed. You use it to keep things like a lamp, a book, or your phone close at hand.

For teachers: a small table or cabinet placed beside a bed for the storage of personal items or the placement of a lamp. Often used in the plural to refer to a pair of tables on either side of a bed.

## Examples

- I keep my alarm clock on the nightstand.
- She reached for her glasses on the nightstand before turning off the lamp and going to sleep.
- The bedroom was furnished with a simple oak nightstand that provided just enough space for a reading lamp and a small stack of travel guides.

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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.