midnight

UK: /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ US: /ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/ ,(mid′nīt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mid•night /ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/   n. [uncountable* usually: no article]

1. the middle of the night, esp. twelve o'clock at night:
   to stay up past midnight.

adj. [before a noun]

2. of or relating to midnight:
   a midnight swim in the ocean.

Usage

The word midnight, like the word noon, is not normally used with the:
We met at midnight.
The appointment was for midnight at the secret hideout.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mid•night  (mid′nīt′), n. 

1. the middle of the night;
   twelve o'clock at night.

adj. 

2. of or pertaining to midnight.
3. resembling midnight, as in darkness.
4. Idioms burn the midnight oil, to study or work far into the night:
   After months of burning the midnight oil, he really needed a vacation.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English midniht. See mid-, night

mid′night′ly, adj., adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

midnight / ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/ noun

1. the middle of the night; 12 o'clock at night
2. (as modifier): the midnight hour
3. burn the midnight oil ⇒ to work or study late into the night