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• good night
  good night

  interjection

  an expression of farewell used in parting at nighttime or when going to sleep.
• good-night
  good-night

  noun

  a farewell or leave-taking.

good night

¹ American  

interjection

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

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good-night ² American  

[good-nahyt] / ˌgʊdˈnaɪt /

noun

1. a farewell or leave-taking.

   He said his good-nights before leaving the party.

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good night British  

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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good night Idioms  

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]

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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Etymology

Origin of good night

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

good night good-night

She messages her digital companion all day, and even bids it good night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

"The pope had a good night in the hospital. He got up and had breakfast," the Vatican said in a short statement on Telegram.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

“While they have excellent eyesight during the day, eagles do not have good night vision.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Even if he were cogent enough to consider such a thought, he will never go gentle into that good night.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026

Anya said good night to Dyedka before grabbing half of the remaining bread from the counter and a lantern from the floor.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

This is a love story: During the spring of 2008, long before they produced evidence of humanity’s first recorded kiss, Sophie Lund Rasmussen and Troels Pank Arboll clasped lips in their first good-night snog.

From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2024

He played a game that was attractive to fans — big serve, closing volley, good-night Irene.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2022

“Hello, good-night, I’m going to play a quick game of Madden,” he says.

From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2019

And so, with Kent, the King’s loyal subject, we may offer up a little prayer for America: “Fortune, good-night: smile once more; turn thy wheel!”

From Washington Post ● May 28, 2017

Now that I was in the security of a nest, the sounds of raindrops against the broad leaves and the good-night cries of the other bonobos became soothing instead of alarming.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

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