Meaning & use

nocturnal

adjective·Advanced

Active during the night rather than the day, especially describing animals.

See it in a sentence

Owls are nocturnal hunters that rely on sharp hearing to find prey in darkness.

The zoo built a dark exhibit so visitors could observe nocturnal creatures.

A note on using this word

Nocturnal contrasts with 'diurnal' (active by day); most bats and many rodents are nocturnal.

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