midnight

noun

mid·​night ˈmid-ˌnīt How to pronounce midnight (audio)
Synonyms of midnightnext
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
see also:
burn the midnight oil

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.
Around midnight, Bethune walked into the parking lot, where the men approached him in a gray 2026 Toyota Camry equipped with flashing blue and red lights, according to Johnson’s arrest affidavit. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 After midnight, winds will strengthen further, with occasional gusts reaching 40–45 mph. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 On New Year’s Eve 1999, while the world waited to see whether the Y2K bug would knock out computer systems at midnight, Tim Walsh was looking at an apartment near Times Square. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 Shortly before midnight, the squad determined the bags were harmless and contained no explosives, Anderson said. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing midnight

Rhymes for midnight

See All Rhymes for midnight

Browse Nearby Words

Midn
midnight
midnight appointment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Midnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midnight. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for midnight

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