Midnight Meaning

UK /ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/
US /ˈmɪdˌnaɪt/
Word Definition
midnight meaning

Midnight Definition & Usage

noun

The time of night that marks the middle of the night, typically occurring at 12:00 AM.

Examples

  • "The clock struck midnight, and the party guests began to leave."
  • "She was still awake at midnight, lost in her thoughts."
  • "The last train departs at midnight, so we need to hurry."
  • "Midnight is often considered the time when the new day begins."
  • "The event will start at midnight, so please be there on time."
noun

A metaphorical or symbolic reference to a point of great darkness or uncertainty.

Examples

  • "His life seemed to reach a kind of midnight when he lost his job."
  • "The city looked deserted, as if it had entered a state of midnight."
  • "The midnight of the soul can be a place of deep reflection and change."
  • "The situation had grown so dire that it felt like midnight, with no hope in sight."
  • "Their relationship was in its own midnight, with no way to move forward."

Cultural Context

In many cultures, midnight is seen as a mystical and powerful time. It's traditionally associated with ghost stories, witchcraft, and the supernatural, as it is considered the time when the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds is thin. The idea of a 'midnight hour' has also been used in literature and film to evoke mystery, suspense, or the idea of new beginnings.

The Midnight Decision

Story

The Midnight Decision

At the stroke of midnight, Clara sat alone in the dimly lit room, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. The clock on the wall ticked louder with each passing second, as if urging her to make her choice. She had promised herself that she would make a decision by midnight, but now that the time had come, she wasn't sure she was ready. Her phone buzzed with a message from her best friend, Emma: 'Are you still awake? It's past midnight, you know.' Clara chuckled softly, knowing Emma always kept track of these things. 'I’m still thinking,' she typed back. The idea of quitting her job and starting something new had been on her mind for months, but now, at the midnight hour, it felt like a leap into the unknown. Outside the window, the world was silent, save for the occasional rustle of trees in the wind. Midnight brought an eerie stillness to the world, a moment of darkness before the dawn of a new day. Clara couldn’t help but think of the metaphorical midnight that had taken over her life. Everything felt uncertain, as though she was standing on the edge of a precipice. Just as the minutes ticked closer to 12:15 AM, Clara took a deep breath and hit 'send.' She had made the decision. It wasn't easy, but midnight had given her the clarity she needed. Sometimes, it takes a moment of darkness to bring about the most important changes. In the morning, Clara would wake up with a new sense of purpose, knowing that the midnight hour had helped her find the courage to move forward.

The Midnight Decision