good night

interjection

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

Origin of good night

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

good-night

[goo d-nahyt]

noun

a farewell or leave-taking: He said his good-nights before leaving the party.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for goodnight

Contemporary Examples of goodnight

And let me say: those baffles make the telescope ugly, like its own mama puts a bag over its head before kissing it goodnight.
Using Black Holes to Measure Dark Energy, Like a BOSS
Matthew R. Francis
April 13, 2014
He was alone, wrapped at six in the morning, and the rest of us had wrapped earlier and were like, “Well, bye, goodnight!”
Alison Brie on ‘Community’s’ New Beginning, Dan Harmon’s Return, Nicolas Cage, and More
Marlow Stern
January 3, 2014
After the performance, Howard gave her a hug and politely bid her goodnight.
Terrence Howard, Star of ‘The Butler,’ Is an Actor With a Dark Past
Allison Samuels
August 20, 2013
He would send her and his daughters stick figures of himself in bed with Barney the dog to say goodnight or good morning.
George W. Bush Emerges From the Shadows to Open Presidential Library
Eleanor Clift
April 23, 2013
Sometimes the littlest moments, like a goodnight kiss, are the most important.
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s Favorite World of Wonder Clips (VIDEO)
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
February 5, 2013

Historical Examples of goodnight

As usual he said goodnight to no one of them, but stole gently out.
Heather and Snow
George MacDonald
Then Dawes yawned widely, stood up, and said goodnight at quarter-of-ten.
Dream Town
Henry Slesar
Asgill's face was dark with passion, but "Goodnight" Flavia repeated coldly.
The Wild Geese
Stanley John Weyman
Goodnight, Sergeant, and don't forget the hour in the morning.'
VC -- A Chronicle of Castle Barfield and of the Crimea
David Christie Murray
Goodnight, my friends, and may the good God have mercy upon all souls!
Little Novels of Italy
Maurice Henry Hewlett

British Dictionary definitions for goodnight

good night

sentence substitute

a conventional expression of farewell, or, rarely, of greeting, used in the late afternoon, the evening, or at night, esp when departing to bed

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 goodnight

good night

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]

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]