midday

midday — noun

1. the time when the clock shows 12:00 in the day, or the short period just before

1.nounA2
Definition

the time when the clock shows 12:00 in the day, or the short period just before and after this time

Example

The team meeting is at midday, so please arrive before twelve.

at + midday for scheduling a specific time

By midday, the sun was so strong that everyone moved into the shade.

by + midday meaning 'before or at that time'

Common collocations
  • at midday
  • by midday
  • around midday
  • before midday
  • after midday
  • midday sun
  • midday meal
  • midday heat
Synonyms
  • noon

    exactly 12:00; 'noon' is more precise, while 'midday' can include the time around twelve

  • twelve o'clock

    more conversational and exact in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • midnight

    12:00 at night, the opposite point in the 24-hour cycle

Grammar Patterns

at + midday

by + midday

around + midday

Usage Note

Used without an article — 'at midday', 'by midday', 'around midday'. Often placed before another noun as a modifier: 'midday sun', 'midday meal', 'midday heat'.

Common Mistakes

I will meet you at the midday.
I will meet you at midday.
'midday' is uncountable and does not take the article 'the'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Midday', 'noon', and 'twelve o'clock' all refer to 12:00 in the day, but differ slightly in use. 'Noon' is the most exact term — it means precisely 12:00, while 'midday' can stretch to include the hour around that time ('the midday heat' covers 11:30–13:00). 'Twelve o'clock' is the simplest everyday phrase, suitable in casual conversation ('See you at twelve o'clock'). In formal schedules, 'noon' is preferred ('The meeting is at noon'). 'Midday' also works as a modifier ('midday sun', 'midday meal'), which 'noon' does not ('noon meal' sounds dated).

midday ↗noon ↗twelve o'clock

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • exactly at midday
  • shortly after midday
  • just before midday

Phrases

  • at midday
  • by midday
  • around midday
  • before midday
  • after midday

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'middæg', a compound of 'midd' (middle) and 'dæg' (day). The word has stayed close to its original meaning for over a thousand years.