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
Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 4 Feb. 2025
The potential for rain and snow returns Saturday with a 50% chance of precipitation, a daytime high near 40 and a low around 35 overnight.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
Devil’s Thumb also offers nordic skiing, fat tire biking and a spa, among many services, to its overnight guests.
—Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
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
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
Before all this is the table read with all of the writers, which comes after mid-week overnights, delusional bubbles, paranoia about the group of colleagues cackling down the hall, and the rest of the hallmarks of a competitive workplace.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overnight 
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Adverb
However, parents can’t change the system overnight by reading bedtime stories to little ones.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 4 Feb. 2025
The potential for rain and snow returns Saturday with a 50% chance of precipitation, a daytime high near 40 and a low around 35 overnight.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
As embers rained down on western Altadena overnight Jan. 7 into Jan. 8, evacuation orders were delayed by several hours.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
Devil’s Thumb also offers nordic skiing, fat tire biking and a spa, among many services, to its overnight guests.
—Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
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
There are some staffers at CNN who are likely to view a move of Acosta from mid-mornings to overnights as a demotion.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
Before all this is the table read with all of the writers, which comes after mid-week overnights, delusional bubbles, paranoia about the group of colleagues cackling down the hall, and the rest of the hallmarks of a competitive workplace.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overnight
Dictionary Entries Near overnight
Cite this Entry
“Overnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overnight. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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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