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goodnight

goodnight

4 1.0
A farewell said before going to bed or leaving for the night
  • noun
  • /ɡʊdˈnaɪt/
: buenas noches
  • Scottie, then three years old, knocked on the door to say goodnight.
  • a goodnight kiss

Examples

  • I kiss them both goodnight and head to the guest room.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Nate finished his dinner quickly, cleared his dishes, and went upstairs, mumbling "goodnight" though it was barely seven o'clock.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Well, do me a favor and give Jack a kiss goodnight for me.

  • About ten, I said goodnight and withdrew to my room on the second floor.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We're going up to bed now, so let's say goodnight, goodnight, farewell.

  • In a little while, the goodnights were said, and the children went to their rooms.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Milly was able to hug and kiss her parents goodnight with a genuine smile on her face.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - NIGHT: SAMANTHA and HAL bid goodnight to their friends and neighbors.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Skirting talk of her dying mother, Laura bade her father goodnight, kissing him on the forehead.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Before turning off the lights, she always says goodnight to her family.

Synonyms

bye
vsgoodnight
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A short word or action people use when they leave each other

is the specific expression used when saying farewell at night
good night
vsgoodnight
877 1.0

A way to say goodbye and wish someone a nice night before sleep

is the expression used specifically when parting at bedtime or day end
goodbye
vsgoodnight
747 1.0

Words people say when they leave each other

is narrower, used mainly for farewells at the end of the day
good-bye
vsgoodnight
653 1.0

Words or actions people use when they leave

is the bedtime or day-ending farewell rather than a general parting
bye-bye
vsgoodnight
  • Informal
397 1.1

A friendly informal way to say goodbye when leaving

is the farewell reserved specifically for parting at bedtime
see ya
vsgoodnight
  • Texting
222 8.4

A friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to meet again

is the nightly parting phrase used specifically at bedtime
cheers
vsgoodnight
  • UK
196 6.7

A friendly informal word used to thank someone, say goodbye, and to make a toast before drinking

is the bedtime farewell with the specific timing of night parting
farewell
vsgoodnight
194 1.9

A speech or action that says goodbye and wishes someone well

is the simple nightly parting used at day's end without long good wishes
night night
vsgoodnight
  • Baby Talk
68 6.0

A friendly short phrase to say to someone before they go to sleep

is the bedtime farewell without the same child-directed warmth
adios
vsgoodnight
  • Informal
50 7.2

A word people use to say goodbye

is the expression used specifically before sleep or ending the day
adieu
vsgoodnight
  • Literature
30 9.3

A final goodbye you say when leaving for a long time

is the ordinary bedtime farewell used for everyday parting
sayonara
vsgoodnight
25 8.6

A goodbye used when someone leaves for a long time

is the routine nightly goodbye rather than a final departure
cheerio
vsgoodnight
  • UK
14 8.9

A friendly way to say goodbye

is the evening-specific parting rather than a general friendly goodbye
toodle
vsgoodnight
  • Archaic
14 9.9

A playful word people use to say goodbye

is the evening-specific farewell used when people part at night
nighty night
vsgoodnight
  • Baby Talk
13 8.1

A friendly way to say good night to someone before sleep, often to children

is the more general bedtime parting without extra playfulness
pip pip
vsgoodnight
  • Archaic
4 9.9

A friendly old-fashioned British way to say goodbye

is the contemporary nightly parting used before going to bed
nite
vsgoodnight
  • Informal
1 8.2

A casual way to say goodbye at the end of the day

is the standard bedtime farewell used in normal conversation
so long
vsgoodnight
  • Informal
1 6.3

A casual word for goodbye used when leaving someone

is the short nightly farewell used before sleep rather than long leave
nunight
vsgoodnight
  • Archaic
9.9

A playful way to say goodnight, often to children

is the routine farewell used at bedtime rather than playful talk

Idioms

Goodnight Irene
  • Informal
1 9.9

A playful, friendly way to say goodnight or goodbye

Surface Forms

goodnight singular
goodnights plural

Morphology

goodnight = good + night (transparent) = good + night

Meaning is directly the combination of 'good' + 'night' used as a farewell or expression before sleep.

Etymology

Goodnight began as the short phrase good + night people said when they left in the evening, so it became a common farewell or gesture used before going to bed.