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
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
A week-plus into the military efforts, overnight March 8-9, premarket trading mass hysteria spurred Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, a domestic American benchmark, both to nearly $120 per barrel.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Wind speeds have dropped below advisory levels, but breezy conditions can still be expected through the overnight hours.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 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
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Another area that high-resolution modeling suggests a potential for high winds through the overnight will be north of 422 toward Lake Erie with gusts between 45 and 55mph.
—Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overnight
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Adverb
Winds will lull overnight, Sunday into Monday, before picking back up again on Monday morning.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
A week-plus into the military efforts, overnight March 8-9, premarket trading mass hysteria spurred Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, a domestic American benchmark, both to nearly $120 per barrel.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In the entertainment industry, there is almost no such thing as an overnight sensation.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Wind speeds have dropped below advisory levels, but breezy conditions can still be expected through the overnight hours.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 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
Harder to swallow still, an overnight at Hotel Hans Egede — generally considered Nuuk’s best stay, though firmly in the three-star category by international standards — typically exceeds $350 per night during high season.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Another area that high-resolution modeling suggests a potential for high winds through the overnight will be north of 422 toward Lake Erie with gusts between 45 and 55mph.
—Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 15 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 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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