moonlight

1 of 2

noun

moon·​light ˈmün-ˌlīt How to pronounce moonlight (audio)
: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 2

verb

moonlighted; moonlighting

intransitive verb

: to hold a second job in addition to a regular one
moonlighter noun

Examples of moonlight in a Sentence

Noun A figure appeared in the moonlight. Verb She is a secretary who moonlights as a waitress on weekends.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Before long, Uma’s taste for cigarettes under the moonlight turns into regular solo walks at all hours. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025 Get dinner back at Drift later and walk in the moonlight along a beach wide enough for a president to land a helicopter, with the sound of the sea and the sea breezes in the coconut palms. Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
Verb
At the time of the murder, Mack was moonlighting as a bodyguard for Knight and was arrested for bank robbery that same year. Alex Heigl, People.com, 18 May 2025 Ready to hit the shelves early next week, Hamdan’s debut novel features a delightful protagonist, Mia, a young Palestinian American woman who moonlights as a stand-up comedian in New York. Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for moonlight

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from moonlighter

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moonlight was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moonlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moonlight. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

moonlight

1 of 2 noun
moon·​light -ˌlīt How to pronounce moonlight (audio)
: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 2 verb
: to work at a second job in addition to a regular one
moonlighter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on moonlight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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