noon
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The middle of the day; 12:00 p.m.; the time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
Any designated time or peak moment (e.g., 'high noon' for a confrontation). Figuratively, the peak or zenith of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is precise for 12:00 midday, but can be used more loosely for the period around midday. In 12-hour clock contexts, it specifically means 12 p.m., not 12 a.m. (midnight).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core meaning. Both use 'midday' as a common synonym. The phrase 'noontime' is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'high noon' carries strong connotations of a decisive, direct confrontation, derived from Western films.
Frequency
Both use the word with near-identical frequency. 'Noon' is more common than 'midday' in general American English, while 'midday' is slightly more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
At [noon]By [noon]Until [noon]From [noon][noon] on the dotVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “High noon (a time for a decisive confrontation)”
- “As clear as noon (very obvious)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Deadlines: 'The report is due by noon tomorrow.' Meetings: 'Let's schedule the call for noon EST.'
Academic
Timetabling: 'The lecture runs from 11 a.m. to just past noon.' Historical context: 'Observations were taken at solar noon.'
Everyday
Arranging meet-ups: 'Shall we meet for lunch at noon?' Describing time: 'The shops close at noon on Sundays.'
Technical
Astronomy/Geography: 'Local apparent noon, when the sun crosses the observer's meridian.' Computing: 'The system updates at 12:00:00 noon UTC.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sun was nooning high in the sky. (archaic/poetic)
American English
- They decided to noon by the lake, taking their midday rest. (rare/regional)
adverb
British English
- The train is due noon tomorrow. (informal/rare)
American English
- Come by the office noon on Friday. (informal/rare)
adjective
British English
- We arranged a noon meeting.
American English
- She took her noon medication.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat lunch at noon.
- The film starts at noon.
- Let's meet tomorrow around noon for a coffee.
- The deadline is strictly noon, not a minute later.
- The contract stipulates that the payment must be received by noon on the third working day.
- The intense heat of the tropical noon forced everyone indoors.
- The political crisis reached its high noon with the minister's dramatic resignation.
- Solar noon, when the sun is at its highest altitude, varies according to longitude and the equation of time.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
NOON has two O's in the middle, just like the sun is in the middle of the sky at NOON.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME OF DAY IS A LOCATION (arrive at noon); PEAK/CLIMAX IS HIGH NOON (the negotiations reached their high noon).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'полночь' (midnight). The Russian word 'полдень' is a direct equivalent.
- Do not use 'в 12 часов' without specifying 'дня' (p.m.), as it can be ambiguous.
Common Mistakes
- Writing '12 am' for noon (correct is '12 pm').
- Using 'at the noon' (correct is 'at noon').
- Confusing 'noon' with 'afternoon'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following phrases uses 'noon' metaphorically to mean 'the peak or most critical moment'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the 12-hour clock system, 'noon' is precisely 12:00 p.m., which is midday. '12:00 a.m.' is midnight.
No. The correct prepositional phrase is 'at noon', without the definite article. Similarly, we say 'at midnight', not 'at the midnight'.
They are largely synonymous. 'Noon' is more precise for 12:00 p.m. 'Midday' can refer more loosely to the middle part of the day, perhaps from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 'Midday' is also more common in UK English.
It comes from the Latin 'nona (hora)', meaning 'ninth hour'. In the Roman schedule, this was around 3 p.m. Over centuries, the timing of prayers shifted earlier, and by the 12th century, 'noon' came to mean 12 p.m.