graveyard shift
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for graveyard shift, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A work shift running through the middle of the night, typically from around midnight until early morning.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
night shift
overnight shift
nightwatch
lobster shift
Antonyms
day shift
How to use graveyard shift
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
work the graveyard shift
on the graveyard shift
graveyard shift worker
Informal but universally understood; rotas and contracts say night shift instead.
Etymology
Named for the spooky, cold and silent qualities shared by the night and graveyards.
Full origin of graveyard shift →Frequently asked questions
What hours is the graveyard shift?
Usually around midnight to 8am, though it varies by employer — some run 11pm to 7am, others 10pm to 6am. The defining feature is that the whole shift falls in the dead of night rather than just the evening.
What is the difference between the graveyard shift and the swing shift?
The swing shift is the afternoon-to-late-evening slot, roughly 4pm to midnight, sitting between the day and night shifts. The graveyard shift is the one that follows it, running through the small hours until morning.
Why is it called the graveyard shift?
The name plays on the deathly quiet and darkness of the hours involved. The popular story about workers listening for bells on coffins is folklore rather than documented origin, and should not be repeated as fact.
