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
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.
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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on overnight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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