noun
Common
twilight
TWEYE-lyt
Twilight (noun) means the soft, dim light in the sky just before sunrise or, more commonly, just after sunset. Example: “We walked home in the twilight after the concert.”
noun
1
The soft, dim light in the sky just before sunrise or, more commonly, just after sunset.
"We walked home in the twilight after the concert."
"Fireflies come out at twilight in summer."
"The streetlamps flickered on as twilight settled over the quiet village."
2
A fading or declining stage of something.
"The aging boxer fought his last match in the twilight of his career."
"My grandfather enjoys gardening in the twilight of his working life."
"The factory, once busy, was now in its twilight, with only a few workers left."
adj
1
Dim, faint, or suggestive of twilight.
"The old cinema had a twilight glow from its dying neon sign."
"A twilight haze hung over the fields as the farmer walked home."
"They sat in the twilight room, too tired to switch on a lamp."
How to use twilight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe dim light around sunset (or sunrise), or figuratively the late, fading stage of something.
Common pairings
at twilight
twilight hours
twilight of his career
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Word forms
- Plural
- twilights
- Third person singular
- twilights
- Past tense
- twilit, twilighted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We walked home in the _____ after the concert.
Etymology
From Middle English, combining twi- ("two, half") with light — literally "half-light," referring to the dim glow between day and night.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “twilight” mean?
The word “twilight” means the soft, dim light in the sky just before sunrise or, more commonly, just after sunset. In plain terms, the dim light around sunset (or sunrise), or figuratively the late, fading stage of something.
How do you pronounce “twilight”?
“Twilight” is pronounced TWEYE-lyt (/ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “twilight” in a sentence?
Here is “twilight” used in a sentence: “We walked home in the twilight after the concert.”
What is another word for “twilight”?
Words with a similar meaning to “twilight” include gloaming, crepuscule, crepusculum, dimmet, evenglome and glooming.
What part of speech is “twilight”?
Depending on how it is used, “twilight” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “twilight” come from?
The word “twilight” comes from Middle English. From Middle English, combining twi- ("two, half") with light — literally "half-light," referring to the dim glow between day and night.
Is “twilight” a common word?
“Twilight” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “twilight” have?
“Twilight” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft, dim light in the sky just before sunrise or, more commonly, just after sunset.
What is the difference between "twilight" and "dusk"?
"Dusk" specifically refers to the darker end of the evening twilight period, just before full night, while "twilight" is the broader term for the soft, dim light in the sky before sunrise or after sunset. Twilight therefore includes dusk as well as the lighter periods around it.
Does "twilight" only refer to evening light?
No, technically twilight occurs both just before sunrise and just after sunset, though the term is more commonly used for the evening period. Both periods share the same soft, dim quality of light.
What does it mean to describe something as being in its "twilight"?
Figuratively, being in one's "twilight" describes a fading or declining stage of something, such as a career or era, drawing on the idea of light fading before night. It often carries a wistful or reflective tone.
