nocturnal
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for nocturnal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Mainly active at night rather than during the day.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
diurnal
nonnocturnal
How to use nocturnal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
nocturnal animal
nocturnal habits
Etymology
From Latin nocturnus, derived from nox ("night"), the same root behind words like "equinox."
Full origin of nocturnal →Frequently asked questions
What does “nocturnal” mean?
The word “nocturnal” means mainly active at night rather than during the day. In plain terms, active or occurring during the night rather than the day.
How do you pronounce “nocturnal”?
“Nocturnal” is pronounced nok-TUR-nuhl (/nɑkˈtɝ.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “nocturnal” in a sentence?
Here is “nocturnal” used in a sentence: “Owls are nocturnal hunters that rarely appear in daylight.”
What is another word for “nocturnal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “nocturnal” include lucifugous, nightish, nightly and nighttime.
What is the opposite of “nocturnal”?
The opposite of “nocturnal” — its antonyms — are diurnal and nonnocturnal.
What part of speech is “nocturnal”?
“Nocturnal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “nocturnal” come from?
The word “nocturnal” comes from Latin. From Latin nocturnus, derived from nox ("night"), the same root behind words like "equinox.".
Is “nocturnal” a common word?
“Nocturnal” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
