dusk 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdəsk How to pronounce dusk (audio)
Definition of dusknext
as in darkened
being without light or without much light under a dusk sky, the campers wearily bedded down for the night

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dusk

2 of 3

noun

1
as in sunset
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness we stopped playing at dusk, since it was getting too dark to see the ball

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2
as in night
a time or place of little or no light legends of fearsome beasts living in the dusk of the great forest

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3
as in shade
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays the forbidding dusk of Germany's famed Black Forest

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dusk

3 of 3

verb

as in to darken
to grow dark the grief-stricken woman continued to sit in the dusking room until she was completely enveloped in darkness

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dusk
Adjective
When the summer heat creeps to unbearable temperatures, pre-dawn and post-dusk become the most appealing times to run. — Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 Waiting to hear After dusk Wednesday, buses began to arrive at the plant to return some of the immigrants after processing. — Author: Jenny Jarvie, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2019
Noun
Experts also suggest people avoid being outdoors around dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Each light fully charges in about five hours of direct sunlight, then automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn for an effortless set-it-and-forget-it operation. — Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Verb
Its hours are from dawn to dusk every day of the year. — Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025 This packing guide is meant to take you from dawn to dusk in the heat, without sacrificing comfort or style. — Kelsey Glennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dusk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dusk
  1. darkened
  2. sunset
  3. night
  4. shade
  5. darken
  6. dark
  7. twilight
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
  • In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of darkened
Noun
  • By sunset, the park had transformed into a celebration of national pride as supporters prepared to cheer on their country before Friday night’s match.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The nonprofit and the Coastal Commission have drafted a public access management plan that states the land will be open from sunrise to sunset.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of sunset
Noun
  • The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.
    — Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • On Monday night, Contreras was ejected in the second inning after a check-swing strikeout prompted him to give a sarcastic ABS challenge gesture at the umpire, earning an instant boot.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of night
Noun
  • Along with the main shades in the lineup, there are seven color-correcting options that neutralize, brighten, and leave skin looking more refined.
    — Tanya Sharma, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • The only figure, man or woman, not shown wearing identical American-flag blue is the poet Phillis Wheatley, who wears a pastel shade and who also happens to be the only Black person featured in the gallery.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of shade
Verb
  • Auto-correct tools generally brighten photos, but this one also knows when an image needs darkening.
    — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
  • Its most dramatic attack occurred last week, when hundreds of drones overwhelmed Moscow’s air defenses and hit refineries and storage tanks, sending up black plumes of smoke that darkened the sky.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026
Definition of darken
Adjective
  • As its name suggests, the product is formulated with skin care superstar retinol to smooth fine lines and crow’s feet and brighten dark circles.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • El Floridita and Sloppy Joe’s, tourist destinations made famous by American novelist Ernest Hemingway, sat dark and shuttered.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of dark
Noun
  • Venus is still with us though, and is the brightest star-like object in the sky this month, popping out in the low western twilight very soon after sunset and slipping below the horizon not long after evening twilight ends.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
  • However, nights remain short for observers in the northern hemisphere and lingering twilight could make auroras harder to spot.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of twilight
Noun
  • Dark figures were darting through the shadows—Germans were carrying sacks and pillows to their building.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Reflections, shadows and motion blur can all reduce detection confidence.
    — Freddy Kuo, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of shadows

Browse Nearby Words

during
dusk
dusked
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Cite this Entry

“Dusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dusk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dusk

Nglish: Translation of dusk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dusk

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