midnight

noun

mid·​night ˈmid-ˌnīt How to pronounce midnight (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shortly after midnight on July 11, 2021, Maldonado pulled his car over near East Hueneme Road, prosecutors said. Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025 As a parent and teacher, Khan-Ghany began getting more involved in various committees, starting email campaigns and attending school board meetings — staying, at times, as late as midnight. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 Linen pants, breezy shorts, and even roomy travel bags now start at just $32, so make sure to add them to your cart before the sale comes to an end on Sunday, March 30 at midnight PT. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2025 Connections is released at midnight in your time zone. New York Times Games, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for midnight

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of midnight was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Midnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midnight. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

midnight

noun
mid·​night ˈmid-ˌnīt How to pronounce midnight (audio)
: 12 o'clock at night
midnight adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on midnight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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