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

It was recently moved closer to midnight in part due to New START's demise.

From Barron's

A passerby alerted authorities to a woman in a “state of medical distress” shortly after midnight Jan. 6 near Sierra Highway and Technology Drive, said Lt.

From Los Angeles Times

The Senate was expected to finalize the deal Friday evening, hours before a midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s nearly midnight when I blow out the candle.

From Literature

If no deal is struck, the second shutdown within months will begin at one minute after midnight on Friday 30 January.

From BBC