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
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Trees will leaf out in the spring and then seem to die or wilt overnight.
—Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
Ryan Young, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
The cub requires four enrichment and feeding sessions every day, with overnight feedings needed in his early days at the center.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
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
Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
After the 48 hours expire, residents can return to their properties to retrieve their things in daylight hours, but can’t stay in the complex overnight, Marshall-Oquendo said.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overnight
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Adverb
Rodriguez was being interviewed by the D.C. police and the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces team, Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino said overnight.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Trees will leaf out in the spring and then seem to die or wilt overnight.
—Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
Adjective
The 10 inmates who broke out of a New Orleans jail in a stunning overnight escape last week used electric hair trimmers with multiple clipper blades to help cut their way through the cell walls, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN.
—Ryan Young, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
The cub requires four enrichment and feeding sessions every day, with overnight feedings needed in his early days at the center.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
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
Reservations are required, and to really amp it up, book an overnight.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
After the 48 hours expire, residents can return to their properties to retrieve their things in daylight hours, but can’t stay in the complex overnight, Marshall-Oquendo said.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overnight
Cite this Entry
“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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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