tonight

1. 1
   adverb

   During the evening or night of the present day.

   The concert begins tonight at eight o'clock sharp.

   She promised to finish the report tonight before going to bed.

   UsageWorks with past or future: I had fun tonight, see you tonight. For the night before, say last night (not incorrect: yesterday night).

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The night of the present day, treated as a time that can be named or described, as in 'tonight's game' or 'tonight is the big night'.

   Tonight is the night of the championship game.

   He dreaded that tonight might bring another sleepless stretch of worry.

   UsageCan be a subject or follow a preposition (plans for tonight), and often takes 's: tonight's game.

3. 3
   adverbobsolete

   During the night just past; last night.

   I dreamt tonight that I did feast with Caesar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy;

   1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”

   Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury, With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire, And others more, going to seek the grave Of Arthur, whom they say is killed to-night On your suggestion.

   1596, William Shakespeare, The Life and Death of King John

   Note

   A reading trap in Shakespeare: the word could point backward to the night just ended. In Julius Caesar (1599), "I dreamt tonight" describes a dream already over, and in King John the rumor that young Arthur was "killed to-night" places the deed in the night before. Readers should translate it as last night, and writers should avoid it, because today it would be heard as the evening still ahead. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

   • Tonight formerly could mean the night just past. en.wiktionary.org
   • 1599 is a valid performance date for Julius Caesar. folgerpedia.folger.edu
   • In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Cinna the poet says 'I dreamt tonight' about a completed dream. folger.edu
   • In Shakespeare's King John, the Bastard reports the rumor that Arthur was 'killed to-night'; tonight here means last night. en.wiktionary.org
   • The reported victim is young Arthur, and the report is a rumor within the play. folger.edu

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