overstay
verb (used with object)
to stay beyond the time, limit, or duration of; outstay.
had overstayed
-
past perfectof overstay.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Over three-quarters of the Ghanaian returnees had overstayed their visas, while all 854 Nigerians were residing in South Africa illegally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
ICE officials said the South Koreans had overstayed their visas or were not permitted to work in the US.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025
By contrast, ICE, which evolved from the INS interior enforcers, their goal was to find people who had made it past Border Patrol, or who had overstayed a visa, and take those people into custody.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Omura was stressing over a mother and daughter who had overstayed their welcome with a friend who took them in after their flower shop failed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024
I suppose," said the blacksmith, "by the time you got back to your ship you had overstayed your leave of absence a good while.
From The Rudder Grangers Abroad and Other Stories by Stockton, Frank Richard
