overnight

1 of 4

adverb

over·​night ˌō-vər-ˈnīt How to pronounce overnight (audio)
1
a
: on the evening before
b
: during the night
stayed away overnight
2
: very quickly or suddenly
became famous overnight

overnight

2 of 4

adjective

over·​night ˌō-vər-ˈnīt How to pronounce overnight (audio)
1
: of, lasting, or staying the night
2
: sudden, rapid
an overnight sensation
3
: traveling during the night
an overnight train
4
a
: accomplished by a mail service within one day's time
overnight delivery
b
: delivered within one day's time
overnight mail

overnight

3 of 4

verb

overnighted; overnighting; overnights

intransitive verb

: to stay overnight

transitive verb

: to send (something, such as a package or letter) by a mail service for delivery within one day's time

overnight

4 of 4

noun

over·​night ˈō-vər-ˌnīt How to pronounce overnight (audio)
: 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
Adverb
This is not something that just happened overnight. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2024 Temperatures will drop to the mid to upper 40s overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday, the NWS said. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Agri-tourism is becoming popular around the world, where working farms supplement their income by taking in overnight guests. Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 For overnight guests whose reservations were automatically canceled, please continue to check Biltmore Estate's website for further updates. Juan Buitrago, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
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
The Fed’s benchmark overnight lending rate influences a variety of business and consumer loans. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024 Southwest said that its first overnight, redeye flights will land on Feb. 14, 2025 in nonstop markets that include Las Vegas to Orlando and Baltimore; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore. Staff and Wire Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for overnight 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overnight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overnight was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overnight

Cite this Entry

“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

overnight

1 of 2 adverb
over·​night ˌō-vər-ˈnīt How to pronounce overnight (audio)
1
: on or during the evening or night
stayed away overnight
2
: very quickly or suddenly
became famous overnight

overnight

2 of 2 adjective
1
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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