To me,
- sunset is the point in time when the sun goes below the horizon,
- dusk (or dawn) is when you can see the higher brightness in the sky where the sun set (or will rise)
- twilight begins when you can see the first (brightest) stars in the sky, and ends when the faintest starts are visible.

Hi AlpheccaStars,

Thank you for your explanation about them.
Does sunset occur before dusk and dusk occur before twilight and so twilight is darker than dusk?

Hi AlpheccaStars,Thank you for your explanation about them.

Does sunset occur before dusk (generally, yes) and dusk occur before twilight (they overlap, but twilight is sometimes described as the darker phase of dusk) and so twilight is darker than dusk (generally, yes)?

Except for sunset, the terms are subjective. In a deep valley, it might appear to be d

AlpheccaStarsDoes sunset occur before dusk (generally, yes) and dusk occur before twilight (they overlap, but twilight is sometimes described as the darker phase of dusk) and so twilight is darker than dusk (generally, yes)?

Hmm, there's a little problem. [A]
Merriam-Webster gives the opposite definition: the darker part of twilight especially at

Thanks, Kooyeen for the correction. I did get it backwards. But these terms are really subjective.

Sunset and (astronomical/civil/nautical) twilight have precise scientific definitions, but dusk does not. Dusk and dawn are for lovers and poets.

You can find times for these astronomical events here:

AlpheccaStars and dusk occur before twilight (they overlap, but twilight is sometimes described as the darker phase of dusk)

Hi AlpheccaStars,

Thanks again for your comment.
Do you mean dusk and twilight can mean the same thing(a period from sunset to nightfall) sometimes when you said "they overlap"?

Sorry, dusk is the darker phase of twilight, as Kooyeen corrected...

The only precise definitions (and you can get exact timings) are:
sunrise/sunset
moonrise/moonset
astonomical twilight
civil twilight
nautical twilight

Dawn and dusk are used only as poetic or literary terms, not scientific terms.

AlpheccaStars But these terms are really subjective.

Yes. I think that there are several "synonyms" or "related words" that are actually the same for all practical purposes, even though the dictionaries often speculate on their differences or connotations. As you said, sometimes those differences and connotations might be subjective. In this case, if you use o

Hi,



A small comment.



In everyday English, these terms are rarely heard. Instead, we typically say

eg She always gets home from work before it gets dark.

eg Cars must turn their lights on as soon as it gets dark.

eg In the Fall, it gets dark earlier every day.



Clive

CliveIn everyday English, these terms are rarely heard.

And to me that's a real shame because dusk, dawn and twilight are beautiful words.

A-