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

Dispatchers received a call just after midnight about a suspect in a hit-and-run collision on the U.S. 60 near Tempe. —Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025

In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny about the warnings given to residents, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. —arkansasonline.com, 14 July 2025

According to Bennet, Clark’s former girlfriend posted a selfie inside the apartment of one of Clark’s friends before the couple went to bed around midnight. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025

The best times to watch them are in the hours surrounding midnight and before sunrise (note, they can not be seen in daylight). —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 11 July 2025

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