overstay

verb

over·​stay ˌō-vər-ˈstā How to pronounce overstay (audio)
overstayed; overstaying; overstays

transitive verb

: to stay beyond the time or the limits of

Examples of overstay in a Sentence

She was guilty of overstaying a student visa.
Recent Examples on the Web This month, amid her ongoing immigration case for overstaying her visa, ABC announced Sorokin would be among the 13 pop-culture figures to participate in the dance show alongside actress Tori Spelling and U.S. Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik. Pilar Melendez, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024 After serving two years in prison, she was released on parole only to be taken into custody by ICE for overstaying her visa. Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2024 Arrive early and don’t overstay your welcome Showing up late can interrupt a grand entrance or a special moment of the ceremony, so arrive 20 to 30 minutes early, Meier said. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 4 Aug. 2024 People the government considers deportable include those who entered the country unlawfully, or entered lawfully then overstayed their visa, as well as lawfully present noncitizens who commit crimes. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overstay 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overstay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overstay was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near overstay

Cite this Entry

“Overstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overstay. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

overstay

verb
over·​stay -ˈstā How to pronounce overstay (audio)
: to stay beyond the time or the limits of
overstayed their welcome

More from Merriam-Webster on overstay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!