by nightfall

USAGE SUMMARY

"by nightfall" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means before the end of the day or before it gets dark. It can be used to describe a specific time or deadline. Example: The construction workers promised to finish the building by nightfall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BY NIGHTFALL, by Michael Cunningham (Picador, $15).

The New York Times - Books

DEAD BY NIGHTFALL, by Beverly Barton.

The New York Times

By nightfall, there were 404.

The New York Times

Most left by nightfall.

The Guardian

By nightfall she has crumbled into herself.

The New York Times

By nightfall, the Patriots did know.

The New York Times - Sports

By nightfall Thursday, the streak was over.

The New York Times - Sports

By nightfall, his hearing had returned.

The New York Times

By nightfall, all the visitors had gone.

The New York Times

By nightfall, however, most politics were forgotten.

The New York Times

By nightfall, only the original masonry remained.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by nightfall" to set a clear deadline for completing a task or achieving a goal within the same day. This adds a sense of urgency and specificity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "by nightfall" when you mean sometime during the night. "By nightfall" specifies a deadline before the end of daylight, not an event occurring at nighttime.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by nightfall" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb, indicating when an action is expected to be completed or a state achieved. As Ludwig indicates, it sets a deadline.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

10%

Sports

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

5%

HuffPost

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by nightfall" is a very common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial of time, setting a clear deadline before the end of the day. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media, books and sports. When using "by nightfall", be clear that you are referring to the time before darkness, not during the night itself. For alternative expressions, consider using "before dark", "before the day ends", or "by dusk".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before dark

A more concise and informal way of saying before it gets dark.

before sundown

Refers to the time before the sun sets.

before night arrives

Emphasizes the arrival of night as a deadline.

before evening

Specifies the period before the evening sets in.

by dusk

Indicates the period of twilight before night.

before the day ends

Focuses on the completion of something before the day's conclusion.

at day's end

Highlights the conclusion of the day as a point in time.

by close of day

Implies a deadline associated with the end of the business day.

prior to night

A slightly more formal way of indicating the time before night.

as darkness approaches

Focuses on the approaching darkness as a temporal marker.

FAQs

What does "by nightfall" mean?

"By nightfall" means before the end of the day, or before it gets dark. It indicates a deadline or a point in time that must be reached before night arrives.

How can I use "by nightfall" in a sentence?

You can use "by nightfall" to indicate a deadline or expected time of completion. For example, "The construction should be completed "before nightfall"".

What can I say instead of "by nightfall"?

You can use alternatives like "before dark", "before the day ends", or "by dusk" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at nightfall" instead of "by nightfall"?

While both are related to the end of the day, "at nightfall" refers to the specific moment when night begins, whereas "by nightfall" indicates something happening before that moment. They are not completely interchangeable; choose based on the precise meaning you intend.