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

We weren’t stuck watching until well after midnight. —Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025

Its deep, musky fragrance will transport you straight to a misty midnight forest. —Maria Correa, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025

After weeks of promising to impose tariffs on its two neighbors, Mexico and Canada, President Donald Trump’s administration will impose tariffs on goods from these countries on Tuesday morning, just after midnight. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025

While there were plenty of Oscar-toting winners still in the mix, no statues could be seen touching the midnight sky from Madison’s corner on the courtyard. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Mar. 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