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Synonyms

overnight

American  
[oh-ver-nahyt, oh-ver-nahyt, oh-ver-nahyt] / ˈoʊ vərˈnaɪt, ˈoʊ vərˌnaɪt, ˌoʊ vərˈnaɪt /

adverb

  1. for or during the night.

    to stay overnight.

  2. on or during the previous evening.

    Preparations were made overnight.

  3. very quickly; suddenly.

    New suburbs sprang up overnight.


adjective

  1. done, made, occurring, or continuing during the night.

    an overnight stop; an overnight decision.

  2. staying for one night.

    a group of overnight guests.

  3. designed to be used on a trip or for a journey lasting one night or only a few nights. night.

  4. intended for delivery on the next day.

    overnight letters; an overnight package.

  5. valid for one night.

    The corporal got an overnight pass.

  6. occurring suddenly or within a very short time.

    a comedian who became an overnight sensation.

noun

  1. Informal.  an overnight stay or trip.

    Our daughter had an overnight at a friend's house.

  2. Informal.  a permit for overnight absence, as from a college dormitory.

    She had an overnight the night of the prom.

  3. the previous evening.

verb (used without object)

  1. to have an overnight stay or trip.

    We'll overnight in Denver, then fly on to San Diego.

overnight British  

adverb

  1. for the duration of the night

    we stopped overnight

  2. in or as if in the course of one night; suddenly

    the situation changed overnight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. done in, occurring in, or lasting the night

    an overnight stop

  2. staying for one night

    overnight guests

  3. lasting one night

    an overnight trip

    an overnight bank loan

  4. for use during a single night

    overnight clothes

  5. occurring in or as if in the course of one night; sudden

    an overnight victory

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to stay the night

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of overnight

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; over-, night

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Floodwaters in the capital Colombo peaked overnight, and with rain now stopped there were hopes that waters would begin receding.

From Barron's

The thieves broke into the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a border fence before breaking into farm buildings, but a complaint was only filed with police later in the week, news site Franceinfo reported.

From BBC

Some of the crew, attempting to return to the ship after delivering supplies onshore, got stranded in the village overnight when they got cut off from the vessel by ice.

From The Wall Street Journal

Separately, a major consortium transporting oil from the Caspian region said it had suspended loading in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, after an attack by unmanned boats overnight.

From BBC

The Derrylin Road remained closed for some time overnight, but reopened on Saturday morning.

From BBC