Twilight is the time just before night when the daylight has almost gone but when it is not completely dark.
They returned at twilight, and set off for one of the promenade bars.
Synonyms: dusk, evening, sunset, early evening More Synonyms of twilight
2. uncountable noun
Twilight is the small amount of light that there is outside just after the sun has gone down.
...the deepening autumn twilight.
Synonyms: half-light, gloom, dimness, semi-darkness More Synonyms of twilight
3. singular noun [NOUN noun]
The twilight of a particular period of time is the final stages of it, when the most important events have already happened.
Now both men are in the twilight of their careers. [+ of]
I am getting old. I am in the twilight of my life.
...the twilight years of the Habsburg empire.
Synonyms: decline, last years, final years, closing years More Synonyms of twilight
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A twilight state or a twilight zone is a situation of confusion or uncertainty, which seems to exist between two different states or categories.
They fell into that twilight zone between military personnel and civilian employees. [+ between]
More Synonyms of twilight
twilight in British English
(ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt)
noun
1.
the soft diffused light occurring when the sun is just below the horizon, esp following sunset
▶ Related adjective: crepuscular
2.
the period in which this light occurs
3.
the period of time during which the sun is a specified angular distance below the horizon (6°, 12°, and 18° for civil twilight, nautical twilight, and astronomical twilight, respectively)
4.
any faint light
5.
a period in which strength, importance, etc, are waning
the twilight of his life
6. (modifier)
a.
of or relating to the period towards the end of the day
the twilight shift
b.
of or relating to the final phase of a particular era
the twilight days of the Obama presidency
c.
denoting irregularity and obscurity
a twilight existence
Derived forms
twilit (ˈtwaɪˌlɪt)
adjective
Word origin
C15: literally: half-light (between day and night), from Old English twi- half + light1
twilight in American English
(ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt)
noun
1.
a.
the subdued light just after sunset or, in less common usage, just before sunrise
b.
the period from sunset to dark
2.
any growing darkness
3.
a condition or period of gradual decline following full development, achievement, glory, etc.
adjective
4.
of or like twilight; dim, obscure, etc.
Word origin
ME < twi-, two, twice (but meaning here uncert.) + light1; akin to Ger zwielicht
Examples of 'twilight' in a sentence
twilight
Last week the dollar entered the twilight zone against sterling.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It represents a new twilight zone for monetary policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Are we today in some twilight zone before a new conflagration?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But there is a world of difference between that sort of standard and life in the twilight zone.
The Sun (2013)
We have to work harder at it if we still expect our wives to be around in our twilight years.
The Sun (2012)
They are mainly active at night and twilight, hiding in dense cover by day.
Burton, John A. Animals of the World (1993)
We find ourselves in a dimly lit room, a twilight world between life and death.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
During that soft African twilight there was little shared laughter.
Alan Whicker Whicker's War
Things had begun to change in the twilight days of the Somalia story.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Here's what to do to live a long and healthy life into your twilight years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You could grow as wise as you like in your twilight years, and still remain unnoticed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Stepping in from the bright light of midday, you enter an enchanting world of manufactured twilight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You can lean on each other's crutches in your twilight years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Nautical twilight lasts all night from early June until mid-July.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The five Twilight films have taken more than 2billion at the box office worldwide.
The Sun (2013)
The fifth and final Twilight film is due out in November.
The Sun (2012)
As the day faded to twilight, both men were naked, left only with their respective wills.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But it's fair to say he's enjoying relaxing into the twilight of his life in other ways.
The Sun (2012)
They live in small parties, grazing on grasses, herbs and other vegetation usually at twilight or at night.
Burton, John A. Animals of the World (1993)
In other languages
twilight
British English: twilight NOUN
Twilight is the time just before night when the light of the day has almost gone.
They returned at twilight.
American English: twilight
Brazilian Portuguese: crepúsculo
Chinese: 黄昏
European Spanish: crepúsculo
French: crépuscule
German: Dämmerung
Italian: crepuscolo
Japanese: たそがれ時
Korean: 황혼
European Portuguese: crepúsculo
Latin American Spanish: crepúsculo
All related terms of 'twilight'
twilight zone
any indefinite or transitional condition or area
civil twilight
the period of time during which the sun is 6° below the horizon
twilight hours
the period in which there occurs soft diffused light due to the sun being just below the horizon , esp following sunset
twilight sleep
a state of partial anaesthesia in which the patient retains a slight degree of consciousness
twilight world
a situation of confusion or uncertainty , which seems to exist between two different states or categories
nautical twilight
the period of time during which the sun is 12° below the horizon
astronomical twilight
the period of time during which the sun is 18° below the horizon
Twilight of the Gods
the twilight of the gods ; their ultimate destruction in a battle with the forces of evil
Chinese translation of 'twilight'
twilight
(ˈtwaɪlaɪt)
n(u)
(= evening) 黄(黃)昏 (huánghūn)
(= light) 暮色 (mùsè)
1 (noun)
Definition
the period in which this light occurs
They returned at twilight and set off for the bar.
Synonyms
dusk
We arrived home at dusk.
evening
Finally, towards late evening, the carnival entered its final stage.
sunset
The dance ends at sunset.
early evening
nightfall
We started work at dawn and stopped at nightfall.
sundown
gloaming (Scottish, poetic)
close of day
evo (Australian, slang)
Opposites
morning
,
dawn
,
sunrise
,
daybreak
,
sunup
2 (noun)
Definition
the soft dim light that occurs when the sun is just below the horizon after sunset
the deepening autumn twilight
Synonyms
half-light
gloom
the gloom of a foggy November morning
dimness
semi-darkness
3 (noun)
Definition
a period in which strength, importance, etc., is gradually declining
Now they are both in the twilight of their careers.
Synonyms
decline
last years
final years
closing years
autumn
downturn
ebb
last phase
Opposites
height
,
peak
,
climax
,
crowning moment
1 (adjective)
Definition
of or relating to the period towards the end of the day