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

Perseid Meteor Shower Begins When: after midnight from July 17, 2025. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Leonard says those opposed to the sale have until midnight on July 7 to be granted a stay in order to appeal. —John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 June 2025

Tropical Storm Barry made landfall after midnight Monday having grown some in strength with sustained winds of 45 mph. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025

Antoine Massey, a serial escapee who vanished from a New Orleans jail with nine other inmates just after midnight on May 16, was arrested Friday afternoon in New Orleans, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said. —Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 27 June 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