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
Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Others flew in on small planes, camping overnight on the airport’s tarmac.
—USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel's military said its forces recovered Katzir's body overnight in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
While Mass’ success in publishing is often described as overnight, a large aspect of her appeal is how long she’s been in the book world.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2024
The timing looks to be after the historic total solar eclipse, with storms likely flaring up during the late afternoon and continuing into the evening and overnight.
—Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2024
The incident led district attorney’s investigators to guard Mueller’s home overnight.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Daddy’s prides itself on all its chicken being brined overnight in buttermilk and herbs.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
Authorities searching for a vehicle stolen overnight in a Sacramento County armed carjacking arrested two adults and three underage teens Friday morning after lengthy chase in Northern California.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
Reuters, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The pool house is the perfect spot to get out of the sun and also provides two bedrooms for overnight guests.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Is there overnight camping at The Big Stomp Music Festival?
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
Dry conditions continue overnight with partly to mostly clear skies and overnight lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.
—Molly Robey, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Cincinnati weather forecast for the solar eclipse on April 8
The NWS reports that rain will move into the region Sunday evening and last through the overnight hours into Monday morning.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
These storms will likely peak during the late evening and overnight hours and will be capable of damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
This is good news for travelers who can sleep anywhere — to them, overnight flights are a dream.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
Just ahead, spanning more than a mile across the darkened water, stood the Francis Scott Key Bridge, 185 feet high, with a crew of overnight construction workers on the road deck, patching cracks and filling potholes.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023
This video is showing Covariant’s robotic picking system operating (for over an hour at 10x speed) in a warehouse that handles logistics for a company called Obeta, which overnights orders of electrical supplies to electricians in Germany.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2020
If Newport Aeronautical had the documents, Barazin would photocopy and overnight them to the customers.
—WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
This time, Magnanti had to overnight the mask to Los Angeles, where the women’s team departed from.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2022
These mobile providers may be able to overnight a new device or replacement so your business doesn’t have to stop when your devices do.
—Max Silber, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
Dell was able to overnight a replacement module for the 7090, which easily slid into place.
—Dwight Silverman, Forbes, 14 June 2021
For every room booked May 4-12 for stays between July 6 and Oct. 29, 2020, using the code THANKYOU, guests will get up to 50% off standard room rates and Great Wolf will donate one overnight stay to a nurse.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2020
The company making Perkins’ ring had reopened and agreed to overnight the ring to the couple via FedEx.
—Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2020
Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Most recently, a mother gave birth on a 12-hour overnight Emirates flight from Tokyo Narita to Dubai International on January 19, 2023.
—Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024
Itineraries will range from 10 to 14 days, and some will even include overnights at ports like Phuket, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2023
There could be a passing shower, but anything more substantial should hold off until the overnight.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
This week Kelsey Anderson, Rachel Nance and Daisy Kent will be heading to Tulum, Mexico, for a week of one-on-one dates – as well as overnights.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024
There's also a 14-day Luxury Trains of Peru, that goes to Colca Canyon and Arequipa, including a ride on the Hiram Bingham and two overnights on the Andean Explorer.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2024
During the overnights rose ceremony, Nance was eliminated.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 5 Feb. 2024
Out-of-town overnights in the mountains or in-town educational activities can be a stretch for many struggling families.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Adverb
Mostly clear with diminishing winds Friday evening and overnight as lows drop back to the mid-40s to near 50.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Others flew in on small planes, camping overnight on the airport’s tarmac.
—USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel's military said its forces recovered Katzir's body overnight in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
While Mass’ success in publishing is often described as overnight, a large aspect of her appeal is how long she’s been in the book world.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2024
The timing looks to be after the historic total solar eclipse, with storms likely flaring up during the late afternoon and continuing into the evening and overnight.
—Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2024
The incident led district attorney’s investigators to guard Mueller’s home overnight.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Daddy’s prides itself on all its chicken being brined overnight in buttermilk and herbs.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
Authorities searching for a vehicle stolen overnight in a Sacramento County armed carjacking arrested two adults and three underage teens Friday morning after lengthy chase in Northern California.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia’s overnight attack used six ballistic missiles, which can hit targets within minutes and are much harder to shoot down.
—Reuters, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The pool house is the perfect spot to get out of the sun and also provides two bedrooms for overnight guests.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Is there overnight camping at The Big Stomp Music Festival?
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
Dry conditions continue overnight with partly to mostly clear skies and overnight lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.
—Molly Robey, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Cincinnati weather forecast for the solar eclipse on April 8
The NWS reports that rain will move into the region Sunday evening and last through the overnight hours into Monday morning.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
These storms will likely peak during the late evening and overnight hours and will be capable of damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
This is good news for travelers who can sleep anywhere — to them, overnight flights are a dream.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
Just ahead, spanning more than a mile across the darkened water, stood the Francis Scott Key Bridge, 185 feet high, with a crew of overnight construction workers on the road deck, patching cracks and filling potholes.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
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
This video is showing Covariant’s robotic picking system operating (for over an hour at 10x speed) in a warehouse that handles logistics for a company called Obeta, which overnights orders of electrical supplies to electricians in Germany.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2020
If Newport Aeronautical had the documents, Barazin would photocopy and overnight them to the customers.
—WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
This time, Magnanti had to overnight the mask to Los Angeles, where the women’s team departed from.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2022
These mobile providers may be able to overnight a new device or replacement so your business doesn’t have to stop when your devices do.
—Max Silber, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
Dell was able to overnight a replacement module for the 7090, which easily slid into place.
—Dwight Silverman, Forbes, 14 June 2021
For every room booked May 4-12 for stays between July 6 and Oct. 29, 2020, using the code THANKYOU, guests will get up to 50% off standard room rates and Great Wolf will donate one overnight stay to a nurse.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2020
The company making Perkins’ ring had reopened and agreed to overnight the ring to the couple via FedEx.
—Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2020
Noun
And after a 24-hour pack out with two buddies that included an emergency overnight stop with no water or food (besides sheep meat), Dahlke can attest that the only difference between a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ewe hunt and a ram hunt is the mount on his wall.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
Most recently, a mother gave birth on a 12-hour overnight Emirates flight from Tokyo Narita to Dubai International on January 19, 2023.
—Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024
Itineraries will range from 10 to 14 days, and some will even include overnights at ports like Phuket, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2023
There could be a passing shower, but anything more substantial should hold off until the overnight.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
This week Kelsey Anderson, Rachel Nance and Daisy Kent will be heading to Tulum, Mexico, for a week of one-on-one dates – as well as overnights.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024
There's also a 14-day Luxury Trains of Peru, that goes to Colca Canyon and Arequipa, including a ride on the Hiram Bingham and two overnights on the Andean Explorer.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2024
During the overnights rose ceremony, Nance was eliminated.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 5 Feb. 2024
Out-of-town overnights in the mountains or in-town educational activities can be a stretch for many struggling families.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near overnight
Cite this Entry
“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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