C1adjectivenaturescience
US/nɑːkˈtɜːr.nəl/
UK/nɒkˈtɜː.nəl/
active at night and sleeping during the day; also happening at night
In context
Owls and bats are nocturnal, so you rarely see them in daylight.
Since starting the night shift, I've become almost nocturnal.
The zoo runs a nocturnal tour to see animals that wake up at sunset.
Words that go with nocturnal
adjective + noun
- nocturnal animalsanimals that are awake at nightOwls and bats are nocturnal animals that hunt after dark.
- nocturnal habitsbehavior of being active during the nightThe fox's nocturnal habits make it hard to see.
- nocturnal creaturesliving things that are awake at nightBats are fascinating nocturnal creatures that sleep upside down.
adverb + adjective
- largely nocturnalactive mostly at nightHedgehogs are largely nocturnal, so you rarely see them in daylight.