noon

American  

[noon] / nun /

noun

1. midday.

2. twelve o'clock in the daytime.

3. the highest, brightest, or finest point or part.

   the noon of one's career.

4. Archaic. midnight.

   the noon of night.

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noon British  

/ nuːn /

noun

1. 1. the middle of the day; 12 o'clock in the daytime or the time or point at which the sun crosses the local meridian

   2. ( as modifier )

      the noon sun

2. poetic the highest, brightest, or most important part; culmination

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Etymology

Origin of noon

before 900; Middle English none, Old English nōn < Latin nōna ninth hour. See none ²

Explanation

Noon is twelve o'clock in the middle of the day. Many people sit down to eat lunch right at noon. You can also call noon midday, and its opposite is midnight — also twelve o'clock, but falling in the middle of the night. The word noon comes from a Latin root, nona hora, or "ninth hour." In medieval times, noon fell at three PM, nine hours after a monk's traditional rising hour of six o'clock in the morning. Over time, as noon came to be synonymous in English with midday, its timing changed to twelve PM.

Example Sentences

Noon has raised more than $45 million from investors, including the California Energy Commission, since it was founded in 2018.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Jack in the Box - Baldwin Park When: Noon to 3 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Fox Sports signed a content deal with Barstool Sports last year that included having its founder, Dave Portnoy, and other Barstool personalities appear on Fox’s college football pregame show, “Big Noon Kickoff.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Noon and Moon Lollypop Glasses – Nothing quite levels up a beautiful tablescape like colorful hand-blown wine glasses.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025

Noon came and the store was crowded; people jammed to the counters for food.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright