moonlight
gb/mˈunlˌaɪt/ us/mˈunlˌaɪt/
A2
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Light that comes from the moon
Light in the sky at night that comes from the moon.
Usage pattern:
[moonlight] shines on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'moonlight' with 'sunlight' when talking about night scenes.
Synonyms
moonbeam (Refers to a single ray or narrow beam of light from the moon, rather than the general light.)
Antonyms
darkness (Refers to the complete absence of light, which is the opposite of moonlight.)
Collocations
bright moonlight
|by moonlight
|in the moonlight
|under the moonlight
Themes
nature
|astronomy
|daily life
|weather
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lake sparkled in the bright moonlight.
- We took a walk by moonlight along the beach.
- Moonlight streamed through the open window, lighting the room.
Learner examples
- I can see the trees in the moonlight.
- We sat outside under the moonlight.
- The cat walked quietly in the moonlight.
Verb
B2
action
2
Work another job secretly or part-time
To work at another job, usually at night or in secret, while you already have a main job.
Usage pattern:
[someone] moonlights as [a job]
Common mistake:
Some learners may think 'moonlight' here refers to working outdoors at night; it actually means having a second job regardless of location.
Synonyms
side hustle (Informal term for an additional source of income, not necessarily secret.)
Antonyms
be unemployed (Means not having any paid work at all, which is opposite to working extra jobs.)
Collocations
moonlight as a bartender
|moonlight as a driver
|moonlight as a musician
Themes
work
|business
|daily_life
Examples
- She teaches during the day and moonlights as a singer at night.
- He was caught moonlighting without his manager's permission.
- Many office workers moonlight to earn extra money.
Learner examples
- I work in a shop and moonlight as a taxi driver.
- He moonlights as a cook in the evenings.
- She moonlights as a writer on weekends.
Grammar
Dictionary form
moonlight
IPA
GB/mˈunlˌaɪt/
US/mˈunlˌaɪt/
Syllables & stress
moon - light (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (moon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: moonlight
- Plural: moonlight
Verb
- Base: moonlight
- 3rd Person Singular: moonlights
- Present Participle: moonlighting
- Past: moonlighted
Word family
Expressions
in the moonlight
1/ˈɪn ðə mˈunlˌaɪt/
fixed phrase
In an area lit by moonlight
In a place where light from the moon is shining.
Examples
- They danced slowly in the moonlight.
- The castle looked beautiful in the moonlight.
moonlight as
1/mˈunlˌaɪt ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Work an extra job besides main one
To do another job besides your main one, often at night or secretly.
Examples
- He moonlights as a photographer on weekends.
- She moonlights as a yoga instructor after her office hours.