over·night
ˌō-vər-ˈnīt 
1
a
: on the evening before
b
: during the night
stayed away overnight
2
: very quickly or suddenly
became famous overnight
over·night
ˌō-vər-ˈnīt
over·night
ˈō-vər-ˌnīt
ˌō-vər-ˈnīt
ˌō-vər-ˈnīt
overnighted; overnighting; overnights
: to stay overnight
: to send (something, such as a package or letter) by a mail service for delivery within one day's time
over·night
ˈō-vər-ˌnīt
: an overnight stay
Examples of overnight in a Sentence
Adverb
He stayed overnight and went home the next day.
Let the paint dry overnight.
The novel made her famous overnight.
Adjective
They went on an overnight bus trip.
Overnight guests are not allowed in the dormitory.
The show was an overnight success.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah responded with several rockets headed south toward Israel overnight, an ABC News team in Lebanon observed.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
For an overnight stay, the Cedar Key Bed & Breakfast offers a place to lay your head close to the historic downtown.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024
Star Legend will sail 16 week-long cruises between Rome and Barcelona, visiting Florence and Pisa in Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco (where the ship will overnight); and Marseille, France.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
David Dickstein, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Stay as close as possible to both the slopes and the spas with an overnight at the Hotel Rezia, which offers mountain views and its own Turkish bath.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overnight
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Adverb
But Carolyn and John, in trying to go against the grain and trying to be small and off the grid, actually changed the wedding industry overnight.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah responded with several rockets headed south toward Israel overnight, an ABC News team in Lebanon observed.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight strikes by Israel.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
For an overnight stay, the Cedar Key Bed & Breakfast offers a place to lay your head close to the historic downtown.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
My bank promised to overnight a new card to my address but then sent it to the wrong address – my U.S. residence instead of my Swiss address.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024
Star Legend will sail 16 week-long cruises between Rome and Barcelona, visiting Florence and Pisa in Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco (where the ship will overnight); and Marseille, France.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
Noun
Regent Seven Seas leans on its newest vessel, Seven Seas Grandeur, alongside Explorer and Splendor, adding more overnights and late stays in marquee ports.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Stay as close as possible to both the slopes and the spas with an overnight at the Hotel Rezia, which offers mountain views and its own Turkish bath.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overnight
Cite this Entry
“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overnight
1 of 2 adverb
over·night
ˌō-vər-ˈnīt
1
: on or during the evening or night
stayed away overnight
2
: very quickly or suddenly
became famous overnight
overnight
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, lasting, or staying the night
overnight trip
an overnight guest
2
: sudden sense 1
overnight stardom
3
: traveling during the night
an overnight train
4
: delivered within one day's time
overnight mail
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