C1noun 2K

Noon

UK /["/nuːn/"]/ US /["/nuːn/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

12 o’clock in the middle of the day

Listen to definition

In simple words: The middle of the day, around 12 o'clock.

Examples

• We should be there by noon.
• The conference opens at 12 noon on Saturday.
• the noon deadline for the end of hostilities
• I'm leaving on the noon train.
• She talks about him morning, noon and night.
• The work continues morning, noon and night.
• It's all she talks about, morning, noon and night.

Usage notes

Used to refer to lunchtime or the exact hour of 12 PM. Not typically used in formal writing but common in everyday conversation.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Remember 'noon' as the sun is highest in the sky at this time, where it looks like a perfect circle.

Collocations

• 12
• high
• around noon
• at noon
• by noon
• morning, noon and night

Synonyms

• midday

Antonyms

• midnight

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'midnight', which is 12 AM.
• Using 'noon' to refer to times other than 12 PM.
• Pronouncing it incorrectly as 'nune' instead of 'noon'.