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

see also:

burn the midnight oil

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

In a nod to Schrager’s Studio 54 days, there’s also Studio, an exclusive, speakeasy-like lounge that doesn’t really get going until midnight. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026

Temperatures by midnight will fall to near 40 before ending up in the mid 30s Friday morning. — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026

The strike on Nasser Hospital shortly after midnight hit the complex’s surgery unit, according to a Gaza Civil Defense spokesman. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026

Deeply fluted and squatty, these pumpkins look whimsical, like Cinderella’s carriage after the stroke of midnight. — Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 12 Nov. 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