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
Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 22 June 2024
He was placed under arrest and held overnight for arraignment, according to police.
—Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 22 June 2024
Dalia Faheid, CNN, 22 June 2024
According to the lawsuit, the woman booked a two-day cruise from West Palm Beach to the Bahamas in early August 2023, with the cruise line making overnight accommodations at the Viva Fortuna Beach for guests who did not have their own cabin on board.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 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
Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024
During summers, on weekends, and even for a short time on overnights, her daughter would just come to work with her.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overnight 
Adverb
He was arrested and kept overnight to be arraigned, and was later released without bail.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 22 June 2024
He was placed under arrest and held overnight for arraignment, according to police.
—Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 22 June 2024
Adjective
Record overnight low temperatures will increase health risks by reducing the ability for people to cool down at night.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 22 June 2024
According to the lawsuit, the woman booked a two-day cruise from West Palm Beach to the Bahamas in early August 2023, with the cruise line making overnight accommodations at the Viva Fortuna Beach for guests who did not have their own cabin on board.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 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
Noun
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, 12 June 2024
During summers, on weekends, and even for a short time on overnights, her daughter would just come to work with her.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for overnight
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 4 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share