nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtər-nᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
nocturnal activities
2
: active at night
a nocturnal predator
nocturnal insects, such as mosquitoes
Examples of nocturnal in a Sentence
he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy
Recent Examples on the Web
Also, just before the group saw the eagle, they were surprised by a paca—a large, usually nocturnal rodent—on the trail.
—
Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
Knowles has been a sleepwalker her entire life and has had many similar instances of nocturnal activities, per Newsweek.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 13 July 2025
As such, expect increases in the strength of the nocturnal inversions, warmer temperatures and progressively drier relative humidity values and moderate to poor overnight recoveries.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
For example, these forces have prompted cougars to adapt by becoming more nocturnal, using culverts or taking riskier crossings across fragmented landscapes.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nocturnal
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Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
Knowles has been a sleepwalker her entire life and has had many similar instances of nocturnal activities, per Newsweek.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 13 July 2025
As such, expect increases in the strength of the nocturnal inversions, warmer temperatures and progressively drier relative humidity values and moderate to poor overnight recoveries.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
For example, these forces have prompted cougars to adapt by becoming more nocturnal, using culverts or taking riskier crossings across fragmented landscapes.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nocturnal
Cite this Entry
“Nocturnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nocturnal. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night
a nocturnal journey
2
: active at night
nocturnal insects
Etymology
from early French nocturnal, nocturnel or Latin nocturnalis, both meaning "nocturnal," derived from earlier Latin noct-, nox "night" — related to equinox
Medical Definition
nocturnal
adjective
noc·tur·nal
näk-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or occurring at night
nocturnal myoclonus
2
: characterized by nocturnal activity
a nocturnal form of filariasis
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