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

Several explosions were heard in Bampur last night around midnight local time, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency said. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Multiple counties in western and central New York were under an air quality advisory Wednesday until midnight. — ABC News, 15 July 2026

The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. — Mark Cooper, New York Times, 14 July 2026

After midnight may be becoming the new prime time for online shopping, especially for Gen Zers, who impulsively overspend during those hours more than any other age groups, a new survey showed. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 14 July 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