midnight

noun

mid·​night ˈmid-ˌnīt 

1

: the middle of the night

specifically : 12 o'clock at night

2

: deep or extended darkness or gloom

midnight adjective

midnightly adverb or adjective

Examples of midnight in a Sentence

Her parents wanted her home before midnight.

It was 12 midnight when we arrived home.

Recent Examples on the Web

Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport. —Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026

Expected to show up in court at around 1 pm PT, Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles County just before midnight on January 29 in Beverly Hills. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026

But the two did ring in the new year together, and even exchanged the customary kiss at midnight. —Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 30 Jan. 2026

By midnight, about 350 responders from dozens of agencies were on scene, including 20 to 30 divers from harbor patrol units. —Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing midnight

• burn the midnight oil
• midnight blue
• midnight sun
• the midnight hour

Rhymes for midnight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

midnight

noun

mid·​night ˈmid-ˌnīt 

: 12 o'clock at night

midnight adjective