overnight

[ adverb oh-ver-nahyt; adjective, noun oh-ver-nahyt; verb oh-ver-nahyt ]

/ adverb ˈoʊ vərˈnaɪt; adjective, noun ˈoʊ vərˌnaɪt; verb ˌoʊ vərˈnaɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overnight ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

for or during the night: to stay overnight.

on or during the previous evening: Preparations were made overnight.

very quickly; suddenly: New suburbs sprang up overnight.

adjective

done, made, occurring, or continuing during the night: an overnight stop; an overnight decision.

staying for one night: a group of overnight guests.

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

intended for delivery on the next day: overnight letters; an overnight package.

valid for one night: The corporal got an overnight pass.

occurring suddenly or within a very short time: a comedian who became an overnight sensation.

noun

Informal. an overnight stay or trip: Our daughter had an overnight at a friend's house.

Informal. a permit for overnight absence, as from a college dormitory: She had an overnight the night of the prom.

the previous evening.

verb (used without object)

to have an overnight stay or trip: We'll overnight in Denver, then fly on to San Diego.

Nearby words

Origin of overnight

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overnight

I remember all our music appeared on Spotify overnight, without anybody asking us.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The quandary of whether to freeze eggs or not could become irrelevant overnight.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women|Samantha Allen|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It took 12 hours to rescue just 100 passengers overnight Sunday.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Overnight on a New York City street, two artists might be creating their latest photo set, made entirely from discarded items.
#Setinthestreet: Your Street Corner Is Their Art Project|James Joiner|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After last night's dinner, Will and Kate, still in evening dress, were whisked to JFK airport for an overnight flight home.
Kate and William's Glamorous $2m New York Send Off|Tom Sykes|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They stop overnight in these little youth inns—hotels made especially for boys and girls.
Mitz and Fritz of Germany|Madeline Brandeis
I'll have to leave it here overnight and pick it up in the morning.
The Year When Stardust Fell|Raymond F. Jones
The building of this great military center almost overnight was an engineering feat of no mean magnitude.
Kelly Miller's History of the World War for Human Rights|Kelly Miller
For overnight the sea, so placid and benignant until now, developed a passing fit of temperament.
Local Color|Irvin S. Cobb
Had he been tampered with overnight, and persuaded of the futility of rebellion?
Mr. Crewe's Career, Complete|Winston Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for overnight

overnight

adverb (ˌəʊvəˈnaɪt)

for the duration of the nightwe stopped overnight

in or as if in the course of one night; suddenlythe situation changed overnight

adjective (ˈəʊvəˌnaɪt) (usually prenominal)

done in, occurring in, or lasting the nightan overnight stop

staying for one nightovernight guests

lasting one nightan overnight trip; an overnight bank loan

for use during a single nightovernight clothes

occurring in or as if in the course of one night; suddenan overnight victory

verb (intr)

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

Word Origin and History for overnight

overnight

adv.

early 14c., from over- + night (n.). Originally "on the preceding evening;" sense of "during the night" is attested from 1530s. Meaning "in the course of a single night, hence seemingly instantaneously" is attested from 1939.

overnight

adverb

adjective

noun

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of overnight

Examples from the Web for overnight

overnight

adverb (ˌəʊvəˈnaɪt)

adjective (ˈəʊvəˌnaɪt) (usually prenominal)

verb (intr)

overnight