Night vs. Dusk — What's the Difference?

The time of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

The time of day when the last light fades, transitioning into night.

The backdrop for many nocturnal activities.

Marks the end of daytime activities.

Symbolically linked to mystery or fear.

A period of decreasing light and cooling temperatures.

A phase of the 24-hour cycle associated with quiet and stillness.

Often associated with tranquility and reflection.

A period associated with sleep and rest.

Known for its unique, soft light quality.

Night (also described as night time or night-time or nighttime, unconventionally spelled as nite) is the period of ambient darkness from sunset to sunrise during each 24-hour day, when the Sun is below the horizon. The exact time when night begins and ends depends on the location and varies throughout the year, based on factors such as season and latitude.

Dusk occurs at the darkest stage of twilight, or at the very end of astronomical twilight after sunset and just before night. At predusk, during early to intermediate stages of twilight, enough light in the sky under clear conditions may occur to read outdoors without artificial illumination; however, at the end of civil twilight (when Earth rotates to a point at which the center of the Sun's disk is 6° below the local horizon), such lighting is required to read outside.

The period between sunset and sunrise, especially the hours of darkness.

The darker stage of twilight, especially in the evening.

This period considered as a unit of time

Tending to darkness; dusky.

This period considered from its conditions

To become or make dark or dusky.

The period between dusk and midnight of a given day

A period of time at the end of day when the sun is below the horizon but before the full onset of night, especially the darker part of twilight.

The period between evening and bedtime.

A darkish colour.

This period considered from its activities

The condition of being dusky; duskiness

This period set aside for a specific purpose

(intransitive) To begin to lose light or whiteness; to grow dusk.

The period between bedtime and morning

(transitive) To make dusk.

One's sleep during this period

Tending to darkness or blackness; moderately dark or black; dusky.

Nightfall

Tending to darkness or blackness; moderately dark or black; dusky.

Darkness

Imperfect obscurity; a middle degree between light and darkness; twilight; as, the dusk of the evening.

A time or condition of gloom, obscurity, ignorance, or despair

A darkish color.

A time or condition marked by absence of moral or ethical values

To make dusk.

Of or relating to the night

To grow dusk.

Intended for use at night

The time of day immediately following sunset;

Working during the night

Active chiefly at night

Occurring after dark

(countable) The period between sunset and sunrise, when a location faces far away from the sun, thus when the sky is dark.

The period of darkness beginning at the end of evening astronomical twilight when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon, and ending at the beginning of morning astronomical twilight.

A period of time often defined in the legal system as beginning 30 minutes after sunset, and ending 30 minutes before sunrise.

(countable) An evening or night spent at a particular activity.

(countable) A night (and part of the days before and after it) spent in a place away from home, e.g. a hotel.

(uncountable) Nightfall.

(uncountable) Darkness (due to it being nighttime).

(uncountable) A dark blue colour, midnight blue.

A night's worth of competitions, generally one game.

Ellipsis of good night

To spend a night (in a place), to overnight.

That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light.

Darkness; obscurity; concealment.

Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance.

A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems to sleep.

The time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

The time between sunset and midnight;

The period spent sleeping;

The dark part of the diurnal cycle considered a time unit;

Darkness;

A shortening of nightfall;

A period of ignorance or backwardness or gloom

Roman goddess of night; daughter of Erebus; counterpart of Greek Nyx

Night is darker because the sun is below the horizon, preventing any direct sunlight from reaching the sky above.

Dusk is the transitional phase leading into night, not considered part of the night itself.

Sleeping, stargazing, and participating in nightlife are common night-time activities.

Nocturnal animals become active at night, while dusk sees a mix of diurnal animals preparing to rest and nocturnal animals starting their activity.

Cityscapes transition from natural to artificial lighting, with buildings and streets becoming illuminated at night.

Stars begin to appear during dusk as the light fades, but are best seen in the middle of the night.

It's unsafe to drive without headlights during dusk due to decreased visibility.

Night begins at the end of dusk and lasts until dawn, characterized by complete darkness.

No, it generally continues to drop throughout the night after decreasing during dusk.

Yes, temperatures typically drop during both periods, but the decrease begins at dusk as the sun sets.

Dusk offers soft, warm lighting conditions that are ideal for photography, enhancing colors and reducing harsh shadows.

Artificial lighting can illuminate areas during night, aiding in human activities but also causing light pollution.

Visibility is a concern; using artificial lighting at night and being cautious during the diminished light of dusk is advisable for safety.

Dusk signals the end of day activities, while night is typically a period for rest.

Night has various cultural meanings, often associated with rest, mystery, or fear.