Definitions

burn the midnight oil

VERB

work hard

Synonyms

WEAK

bear down cram do double duty elucubrate grind lucubrate overwork study sweat and slave toil away work day and night work late work like a dog work overtime

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet those who do choose to burn the midnight oil could end up paying a heavy price.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Yes, Swift chose to burn the midnight oil to spill her album's secrets, night after night, in keeping with its theme — but fans didn't have to choose to stay up.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2023

Those familiar with Duterte say his nocturnal schedule forces those around him — from staff to the press corps — to burn the midnight oil.

From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2021

Adjusting to the new regime requires radical steps, testing employers and workers in a nation where many burn the midnight oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2018

I burn the midnight oil, that is to say, I do my best work at night.

From The Idler Magazine, Volume III, June 1893 An Illustrated Monthly by Various