one-night stand

noun

1
: a performance (as of a play or concert) given (as by a traveling group of actors or musicians) only once in each of a series of localities
2
a
: a locality used for one-night stands
b
: a stopover for a one-night stand
3
: a sexual encounter limited to a single occasion
also : a partner in such an encounter

Examples of one-night stand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The early scenes of Babes have a sketch-comedy feel, but the film eventually coalesces around a real narrative when Eden gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a struggling actor (Stephen James). Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The Neon comedy follows Eden (Glazer), who gets pregnant from a one-night stand and seeks help from Dawn (Michelle Buteau), a married mother of two. Selome Hailu, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Solomon's latest book, Business or Pleasure, follows the story of an awful one-night stand that turns into a great career opportunity. Jessica Leon, EW.com, 21 June 2023 Most of the women who pop up are the band members’ girlfriends, wives, and one-night stands. Vulture, 18 Jan. 2024 Juno cast reunites to remember a 'preggo' eggo and 'pork swords' at the Oscars Credit: Suzanne Hanover/Universal Knocked Up (2009) Judd Apatow's rom-com takes a hilarious and relatable look at the aftermath of a one-night stand. James Mercadante and Kelsie Calderon, EW.com, 19 Sep. 2023 An abortive one-night stand blossoms into an unlikely best-friendship. TIME, 6 Feb. 2024 In The Flight Attendant, her character wakes up in a hotel room after a one-night stand and discovers a dead body in bed next to her, with ensuing dangerous complications. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2024 Haigh’s 2011 indie debut Weekend charted how a one-night stand between two men slowly, almost accidentally evolves into something deeper. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one-night stand.' 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

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-night stand was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near one-night stand

Cite this Entry

“One-night stand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-night%20stand. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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