nighttime
UK: ˈnaɪt.taɪm | US: ˈnaɪt.taɪm
n. the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise; night
The word "nighttime" is a straightforward compound of "night" (Old English niht, from Proto-Germanic nahts, meaning "darkness") and "time" (Old English tīma, from Proto-Germanic tīmô, meaning "span or period"). The compound emerged in Middle English to explicitly denote the duration of night, reinforcing the concept of night as a measurable interval. Unlike poetic or archaic terms for night (e.g., "nocturnal"), "nighttime" retains a practical, modern usage.
The city is quieter during nighttime.
Animals like owls are active at nighttime.
She prefers working in the nighttime.
Nighttime temperatures drop significantly in the desert.
The streetlights illuminate the roads at nighttime.