nighthawk

noun

ˈnīt-ˌhȯk How to pronounce nighthawk (audio)
Definition of nighthawknext
as in night owl
a person who is active late at night an all-night diner that is patronized by nighthawks from every segment of society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nighthawk Nearby, Rodriguez is mimicking the call of a nighthawk. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026 Somewhere in the desert, nighthawks are rising from reefs of blood-red clouds. — Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 Whip-poor-wills and nighthawks, for example, feed on moths and other flying insects at night, foraging when there is less competition with other species. — The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes, New York Times, 18 May 2023 The opening act begins at dusk with the male making what is typically described as a series of distinct nasal peeent sounds (to me the call is more a raspy bzeeent, similar to the nighthawk’s), spaced five or six seconds apart. — Tom Fegely, Field & Stream, 13 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nighthawk
night owl
Noun
  • Shift workers, night owls or anyone running late schedules may feel better with a midday or early afternoon session that matches their own rhythm.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists are starting to uncover the links between being a night owl and some neuropsychiatric conditions.
    — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of night owl

Browse Nearby Words

nightgowns
nighthawk
nighthawks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nighthawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nighthawk. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on nighthawk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nighthawk

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All