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good-night

[goo d-nahyt]
noun
  1. a farewell or leave-taking: He said his good-nights before leaving the party.
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good night

interjection
  1. an expression of farewell used in parting at nighttime or when going to sleep.
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Origin of good night

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for good-night

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "Good-night, captain," said the superintendent, accompanying him to the door.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • They never said How do you do, or Good-night—and Corney very ill too!

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • When she got out of the car, she bade him good-night and good-bye.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • "Good-night, Christine," he said, and went into the hall and upstairs.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • "Oh, good-night," she said impatiently, suddenly breaking from him.

    The Foolish Lovers

    St. John G. Ervine

British Dictionary definitions for good-night

good night

sentence substitute
  1. a conventional expression of farewell, or, rarely, of greeting, used in the late afternoon, the evening, or at night, esp when departing to bed
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with good-night

good night

1

Expression of farewell used when parting at night or when going to sleep, as in He stood at the door, saying good night to each of the departing guests, or Mother came to tuck the children in and kiss them good night. [Late 1300s]

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2

Exclamation of surprise or irritation, as in Good night, Joe!—You can't mean what you said, or Good night, Anne—it's time you learned how to throw a ball. [Late 1800s]

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.