passed midnight

USAGE SUMMARY

'passed midnight' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when talking about something that happened after midnight. For example, "We kept party-goers dancing until long after midnight had passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Never mind that the clock just passed midnight.

The New York Times

As the clock passed midnight, 18.5 million people watched on, as Taylor dramatically clinched the title on the final black.

The Guardian - Sport

Blake then realized that since the clock had passed midnight near the end of his match, it was a new day.

The New York Times - Sports

As the clock passed midnight in the East, the Stars, with a series of patient passes, proceeded to work the puck to Brett Hull, for an open shot.

The New York Times - Sports

It had just passed midnight on my 26th birthday.

Huffington Post

The men who led this team as the clock passed midnight on Oct. 14, 2016 will also lead this team on Friday in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The sun that shone on the British empire had passed midday.

The Economist

"A great man, friend to SANZAR and personally passed this morning - Ian Frykberg.

The Guardian

Shortly after the 6am deadline passed this morning, there was no sign of heavy shelling or rocket attacks in Syria.

Independent

The old order passed last night with Bill Clinton's farewell speech.

The New York Times

In addition, the budget plan passed tonight would eliminate 64 nonunion positions in 12 county departments.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passed midnight" to clearly indicate that an event occurred in the early hours of the morning, after the start of a new day. This can be particularly useful in narratives or reports where the precise timing is important.

Common error

Avoid using "passed midnight" when simply referring to activities happening around midnight. The phrase specifically indicates a time after midnight. For events occurring at the stroke of midnight use phrases like "at midnight" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passed midnight" functions as a temporal indicator, specifying that something occurred after the beginning of a new day. Ludwig provides various examples where this phrase is used to set a specific timeframe for events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passed midnight" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something occurred after midnight. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not extremely common, it appears across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media where precise timing is important. When writing, ensure you're referring to a time after midnight, not merely around midnight, and consider alternative phrasing like "after midnight" or "beyond midnight" for subtle variations in meaning. Avoid redundant phrasing like "after midnight passed."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after midnight

Focuses specifically on the time frame following midnight.

beyond midnight

Emphasizes exceeding the time of midnight.

midnight had gone

Highlights that midnight is in the past.

it was after midnight

States explicitly that the time is later than midnight.

the clock struck midnight

Focuses on the moment of midnight.

past 12 am

A simpler, numerical way of referring to the time after midnight.

in the wee hours

Refers to the early hours of the morning, including after midnight.

late into the night

Indicates an action or event that continued until after midnight.

the day had turned

Emphasizes the transition from one day to the next.

a new day had begun

Highlights the start of a new day, following midnight.

FAQs

How can I use "passed midnight" in a sentence?

You can use "passed midnight" to indicate that an event occurred after midnight. For example, "The negotiations continued until well after midnight had passed."

What's a synonym for "passed midnight"?

Alternatives include "after midnight", "beyond midnight", or "late into the night", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'after midnight passed'?

While understandable, "passed midnight" is more concise and common. Saying "after midnight passed" can sound slightly redundant.

What's the difference between "passed midnight" and 'at midnight'?

"Passed midnight" indicates a time after the clock strikes twelve, whereas 'at midnight' refers to the precise moment when one day transitions to the next.