Tonight: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the upcoming period from now until bedtime or midnight. It's informal and common in everyday conversation.

• We are having a party tonight
• Do you want to go to the movies tonight?

Refers to the time period from late afternoon until bedtime. It's slightly more formal and precise than 'tonight'.

• Let's have dinner this evening
• What are your plans for this evening?

Rarely used in modern English and can sound old-fashioned or poetic. Generally used in literary or dramatic contexts.

• 'This night we will see the stars like never before,' she whispered
• Heroes die this night

Mainly used in literary or descriptive contexts. It emphasizes the nighttime period and is less common in everyday speech.

• The creatures of this night-time are nocturnal
• Her fear grew as she wandered through this night-time forest

Used to refer to the period from the present evening up until the early hours of the next day; common in casual conversation, plans, and events.

• We'll have dinner tonight
• There's a great movie showing tonight

Used for a slightly more formal or specific reference to the early part of the night, generally until around 9 or 10 PM. It is often used in schedules, plans, or polite conversation.

• I have a meeting this evening
• Are you free for a chat this evening?

Rarely used in modern English and may sound archaic or poetic. It can be used for dramatic effect in literature or storytelling.

• On this night, we remember the fallen heroes
• This night marks the beginning of our journey

Seldom used in daily conversation, it emphasizes the whole period of night, usually for descriptive purposes, especially in writing or poetry.

• This night-time silence is soothing
• The stars shine brightly in this night-time sky