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

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.
Several flights, including one passenger plane, were diverted to other airports after the sighting of the flying object near the airport shortly before midnight. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Their midnight rendezvous seems doomed to end in a quarrel until Mysaria heeds Sylvi’s advice. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Golding was found shortly after midnight on Tuesday, July 21, in the basement of her Astoria, Queens, apartment building. — Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said officers in Jackson responded to a report of a car crash just after midnight local time, according to WLBT-TV. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 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 5 Aug. 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

Nglish: Translation of midnight for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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