the middle of the night; 12 o'clock at night (as modifier): the midnight hour - burn the midnight oil ⇒
to work or study late into the night
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mid•night /ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable* usually: no article]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the middle of the night, esp. twelve o'clock at night:to stay up past midnight.
adj. [before a noun]
- of or relating to midnight:a midnight swim in the ocean.
- 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.
mid•night
(mid′nīt′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
mid′night′ly, adj., adv.
- the middle of the night;
twelve o'clock at night.
adj.
- of or pertaining to midnight.
- resembling midnight, as in darkness.
- Idiomsburn 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
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