in the nightfall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the nightfall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or feelings that occur during the time when night begins to fall. Example: "The village looked enchanting in the nightfall, with lights twinkling like stars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Whether a damselfly in "Performance", a "Midget puppet-clown, tranced on his strings, /In the nightfall pall of balsam", or the "plungings, and spray-slow explosions" of "A Dove", his creatures are completely, and delightedly, realised.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

What about your last work published in Syria, Baghdadi Exercises for the Nightfall in 2009?

Vice

In the end, Nightfall does little to sell Halo to the previously disinterested it looks, sounds and smells like dozens of similar movies before it and it doesn't function entirely satisfactorily as a self-contained experience, as from the very beginning we know who's making it out alive, even disregarding the heavy telegraphing of key dramatic beats.

Vice

The Middlesex battalion was subsequently ordered to push on to Sukchon, and after successfully relieving the Americans in place by nightfall, the battalion occupied a defensive position 1.6 km north.

Wikipedia

Jupiter, conspicuous in the SSW at nightfall today, is lost in our evening twilight during March, reappears before dawn in May and reaches opposition in Aries on 29 October.

The Guardian

We were back in the city by nightfall.

The Guardian - Travel

He went back to the tunnel, then, to rest in the dark until nightfall.

The Guardian

The two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, draw together low down in the SW at nightfall during November.

The Guardian

Shining at mag 0.2, twice as bright as Spica, it climbs from low in the ESE at nightfall to stand in the SSE by our map times.

The Guardian

Jupiter, slow-moving 5° to the left of the Praesepe star cluster in Cancer, is unmistakable at mag –2.3 to –2.1 in the S at nightfall.

The Guardian

Mars and Saturn remain the brightest objects low in the S at nightfall, shifting lower still into the SW by our map times.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the nightfall" when aiming for a slightly poetic or evocative tone, especially when describing settings or atmospheres where the transition from day to night is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "in the nightfall" in contexts that require clarity or directness. Simpler phrases like "at night" or "in the evening" are often more appropriate for everyday communication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "in the nightfall" is as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurs. It provides a temporal context, indicating that something happens during the period when day transitions to night. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid English phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Wiki

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the nightfall" is a grammatically sound and usable prepositional phrase in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered correct. Though relatively rare, it offers a slightly poetic way to describe events occurring during the transition from day to night. Its usage is found primarily in news and media, which suggests a formal but accessible tone. For those seeking alternatives, "at dusk", "during twilight", or "in the evening" provide simpler, more common options. Remember to employ "in the nightfall" when aiming for an evocative tone, and be mindful not to overuse it in contexts demanding directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at dusk

Focuses on the very beginning of night, emphasizing the dim light.

during twilight

Highlights the period of fading light between day and night.

at night

A broader term referring to the entire nighttime period.

in the evening

Refers to the later part of the day, often overlapping with the start of night.

as darkness falls

Emphasizes the act of night arriving and covering everything.

when night descends

More poetic, highlighting the arrival and dominance of night.

under the cover of darkness

Highlights the concealing aspect of night.

in the fading light

Focuses on the diminishing light as night approaches.

as evening turns to night

Captures the transition from evening to the fully dark night.

in the gloaming

A somewhat archaic term for twilight.

FAQs

What does "in the nightfall" mean?

The phrase "in the nightfall" refers to the time when night begins to fall; it is synonymous with terms like dusk or twilight but carries a more poetic tone.

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

You can use "in the nightfall" to describe events or feelings that occur during the transition from day to night. For example: "The village looked enchanting "at dusk", with lights twinkling like stars."

What can I say instead of "in the nightfall"?

You can use alternatives such as "at dusk", "during twilight", or "in the evening" depending on the context.

Is "in the nightfall" formal or informal?

The phrase "in the nightfall" leans towards a more formal and slightly poetic register. In casual conversation, phrases like "at night" or "in the evening" are more common.