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

Train service was delayed about 20 minutes after about 50 people blocked southbound and northbound trains at Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue at midnight, said Jose Ubaldo, a Metro spokesperson. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025

The hit-and-run crash occurred shortly after midnight near Linwood Boulevard and Campbell Street in the North Hyde Park neighborhood, said Officer Alyana Gonzalez with the Kansas City Police Department. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2025

Food 4 Less: Open 5 a.m. Monday to midnight Tuesday. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025

The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. —Mark Cooper, New York Times, 22 May 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