# tonight

/təˈnaɪt/ (US) · /tənˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tonight
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. during this evening

adverb · CEFR A1

during the evening or night of today.

For teachers: occurring during the evening or nighttime of the current day.

- We are going to see a movie tonight after dinner.
- The meteor shower is expected to be visible tonight, provided the cloud cover clears by midnight.

Usage: Typically placed at the beginning or end of a clause to indicate time.

### 2. this night

noun · CEFR A2

the night of the present day.

For teachers: the nighttime period of the current date, often used as the subject or object of a sentence.

- Tonight is the first time I have seen the moon so bright.
- Tonight marks the anniversary of the treaty, and celebrations are planned throughout the city center.

Usage: Functions as an uncountable noun.

## Examples

- I am going to a concert tonight.
- We should stay home tonight because a heavy storm is expected to arrive after dinner.
- The clear sky tonight offers a rare opportunity for amateur astronomers to observe the alignment of the planets without the interference of clouds.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.