leaving at midnight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaving at midnight" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the specific time of departure, often in travel or scheduling contexts. Example: "The train is leaving at midnight, so we need to be at the station by 11:30 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I was there to have dinner with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his wife Nili, who were leaving at midnight for Washington for meetings at the White House, as well as prominent Israeli venture capitalist, Meir Barel, of Star Ventures, fellow Greek Sabby Mionis, and Avital Leibovich, the spokesperson for the Foreign Press Division of the Israeli military.

Huffington Post

I vividly remember taking a manuscript to his office around 7 p.m., and leaving at midnight without a single sentence untouched.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Our nurse is leaving at noon for a doctor's appointment," the principal, Nathan Dudley, informed his colleagues at a morning faculty meeting.

The New York Times

Leaving at 4: 30 a.m., Rowell spent 12 hours scaling the Nose admittedly, one of the easier routes and another three hours coming back down.

Forbes

The primary antecedents for community-dwelling PWD in this category were being left home alone and leaving at night while the caregiver was asleep.

BMC Geriatrics

In general, you'll want to allow as much warm sunlight into your room as possible during the day and to prevent that warmth from leaving at night.

WikiHow

The bus left at midnight.

The New Yorker

"If I left at midnight, he was still there.

The New Yorker

She left at midnight, after she had made sure the bed rails were not being used.

Independent

When they leave they're going to be a little more intoxicated than if they would have left at midnight".

The New York Times

The airport tower closes and fire rescue crews leave at midnight, the town said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaving at midnight", ensure that the context clearly indicates the location or situation from which someone or something is departing to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "leaving the party at midnight" instead of simply "leaving at midnight".

Common error

Avoid using "leaving on midnight" or "leaving in midnight". The correct preposition to use with a specific time is "at". Thus, the accurate phrase is "leaving at midnight".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving at midnight" functions as an adverbial phrase specifying the time of departure. It modifies a verb, indicating when the action of leaving takes place. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leaving at midnight" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase that precisely specifies a departure time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while its frequency is uncommon, it finds use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context is clear. Related phrases include "departing at midnight" and "exiting at midnight". Avoid using incorrect prepositions like "on" or "in" with "midnight". This guide provides best practices and clarifies common errors to help you use the phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departing at midnight

Replaces "leaving" with the synonym "departing", maintaining the same temporal meaning.

exiting at midnight

Substitutes "leaving" with "exiting", implying a departure from a place or situation.

setting off at midnight

Replaces "leaving" with "setting off", emphasizing the start of a journey.

taking off at midnight

Uses "taking off" instead of "leaving", commonly used in the context of transportation or journeys.

starting out at midnight

Replaces "leaving" with "starting out", highlighting the beginning of an activity or journey at midnight.

being gone by midnight

Emphasizes completion of the action of leaving before the specified time.

clearing out at midnight

Suggests a more complete and thorough departure.

checking out at midnight

Commonly used for leaving hotels or similar accommodations.

walking away at midnight

Implies a departure that may be more emotionally charged or significant.

vamoosing at midnight

Provides an informal or humorous way to describe leaving quickly or secretly.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "leaving at midnight"?

You can use alternatives such as "departing at midnight", "exiting at midnight", or "setting off at midnight" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "leaving at midnight"?

Yes, "leaving at midnight" is grammatically correct. The preposition "at" is used to denote a specific time.

How can I use "leaving at midnight" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The bus is scheduled for "leaving at midnight"." or "I will be "leaving at midnight", so please be ready by then."

What's the difference between "leaving at night" and "leaving at midnight"?

"Leaving at night" is a general statement about departing sometime during the night, while "leaving at midnight" specifies a precise departure time.