Queen of the Night

noun

variants or queen of the night or Queen of the Night cactus or queen of the night cactus
: night-blooming cereus
Perhaps the most popular night bloomers are the jasmine, like my neighbor's, or the night-blooming cereus, sometimes called "Queen of the Night" because of its showy, fragrant white flowers that only open at night.—Jill Carroll
also : the usually large, white flower of a night-blooming cereus
Among the things that make it different from a daylight visit: night-blooming flowers, such as queen of the night, a white cactus blossom that unfolds when the sun goes down. —Randy Cordova

Examples of Queen of the Night in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Miss Traynor—a kind of nightmare version of the Queen of the Night—appears swathed in an enormous, mildewing white dress, its hems nibbled by rubber pig heads. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026 Midnight Aura pays homage to the Queen of the Night cacti with a vibrant burst of prickly pear and raspberry, grounded by the alluring flower and a musky amber base. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 July 2026 There’s a Queen of the Night, with jasmine sambac absolute and rose essence; a benzoin duo with ylang-ylang and Virginia cedar, and tonka beans with vanilla bean and white musk notes. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 17 July 2026 The troublesome Queen of the Night dazzles with high notes that shoot out like daggers. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Queen of the Night

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Queen of the Night was in 1870

Rhymes for Queen of the Night

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Browse Nearby Words

queen of the meadow
Queen of the Night
queen of the prairie
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Queen of the Night.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Queen%20of%20the%20Night. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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