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
Michael Perkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
As well as an overnight stay in a luxury lodge, the After Hours package includes a two-day zoo pass.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 11 May 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
Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Discrete supercells will be likely throughout the evening hours and will last into the overnight.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overnight
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Adverb
Some of it is due to a fear of needing to relieve themselves overnight.
—Michael Perkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Adjective
Over the course of the next three days, our blue-and-gold chariot will carry us from Salt Lake City to Denver with overnight stops in Moab and Glenwood Springs.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
As well as an overnight stay in a luxury lodge, the After Hours package includes a two-day zoo pass.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 11 May 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
Our wind direction shifts from south to northwest and temperatures will drop into the 50s during the overnight.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Discrete supercells will be likely throughout the evening hours and will last into the overnight.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 25 Apr. 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 14 May. 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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