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

Late Friday afternoon or early evening for areas north of Tarrant County; the I-20 corridor of the Metroplex will transition to freezing rain with some sleet late tonight or just after midnight. —Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026

Sporadic rain Friday will turn to freezing rain and ice around midnight that will continue off and on until Sunday morning. —Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026

Snow and sleet are likely after midnight. —Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 23 Jan. 2026

Snow will likely begin by about midnight Sunday morning and then continue through the whole day Sunday, increasing in intensity later in the day as the low strengthens off the coast. —Bill Kelly, CBS News, 22 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