midnight

American  

[mid-nahyt] / ˈmɪdˌnaɪt /

noun

1. the middle of the night; twelve o'clock at night.

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adjective

1. of or relating to midnight.

2. resembling midnight, as in darkness.

idioms

1. burn the midnight oil, to study or work far into the night.

   After months of burning the midnight oil, he really needed a vacation.

midnight British  

/ ˈmɪdˌnaɪt /

noun

1. 1. the middle of the night; 12 o'clock at night

   2. ( as modifier )

      the midnight hour

2. to work or study late into the night

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Other Word Forms

• midnightly adjective
• postmidnight adjective
• premidnight noun

Etymology

Origin of midnight

before 900; Middle English; Old English midniht. See mid-, night

Example Sentences

“I talked to my husband fifteen minutes ago. He said that Emily is going to hit south of here around midnight.”

From Literature

Yet those who do choose to burn the midnight oil could end up paying a heavy price.

From BBC

Two police officers who visit my home quickly discover it was clocked by a number plate recognition camera shortly after midnight somewhere in Glasgow, about 20 miles away.

From BBC

It was closed for a private event and the group decided to make their way home at about midnight.

From BBC

At midnight she was in her cozy bed quilts when the temple bells began to chime.

From Literature