nightstand

noun

night·​stand ˈnīt-ˌstand How to pronounce nightstand (audio)
: night table

Examples of nightstand in a Sentence

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.
Turn nightstands into side tables or an armoire into a coffee station, craft supply cabinet, or game storage. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026 The jury asked Judge William Sullivan to view empty pill bottles and the knife found on the nightstand in the Clancys' upstairs bedroom, defense attorney Kevin Reddington told The Patriot Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 For a long time, the book’s iconic cover—a stark image evoking Trayvon Martin’s hoodie against a white backdrop—seemed to be on every other literate person’s nightstand. — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 As one example of how this ropes in unwitting people who aren’t aware of the privacy risks of nearby glasses, the complaint cited one video where a user set down his Meta glasses on his nightstand, which then captured video of his wife undressing. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightstand

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nightstand was circa 1852

Rhymes for nightstand

See All Rhymes for nightstand

Browse Nearby Words

nightspot
nightstand
nightstick
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nightstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nightstand. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All