last night; the previous night
Refers to the night before a reference point, often in narrative or formal contexts. Can be used adverbially with に.
The previous night, he stayed up late.
I finished packing the night before departure.
eve; night before (an event)
Used for the night before a special day, festival, or major event, such as Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.
I went to church on Christmas Eve.
The night before the festival, the town was quiet.
The night before the election, the town was quiet.
He was too nervous to sleep the night before the exam.