overnight
Overnight (adv) means throughout the night, or during the course of one night. Example: “The bread dough needs to rest overnight.”
How to Use Overnight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething to do with a single night — happening during it, staying through it, or (figuratively) happening extremely fast.
Word Forms
overnighted past tense, overnights plural, overnights singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bread dough needs to rest _____.
Etymology
From Old English ofer niht ("through the night"), built from over + night; the verb use is a later development, possibly echoing German übernachten.
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “overnight” mean?
The word “overnight” means throughout the night, or during the course of one night. In plain terms, something to do with a single night — happening during it, staying through it, or (figuratively) happening extremely fast.
How do you pronounce “overnight”?
“Overnight” is pronounced oh-vuh-NYT (/əʊvə(ɹ)ˈnaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “overnight” in a sentence?
Here is “overnight” used in a sentence: “The bread dough needs to rest overnight.”
What part of speech is “overnight”?
Depending on how it is used, “overnight” can be an adverb, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “overnight” come from?
The word “overnight” comes from Old English. From Old English ofer niht ("through the night"), built from over + night; the verb use is a later development, possibly echoing German übernachten.
Is “overnight” a common word?
“Overnight” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “overnight” have?
“Overnight” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: throughout the night, or during the course of one night.
What is the difference between 'overnight' and 'over night'?
'Overnight' written as one word is the standard spelling for the adverb and adjective, as in 'stay overnight.' Writing it as two words, 'over night,' is generally considered incorrect in modern English.
Can 'overnight' be used as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, 'overnight' comes before a noun, as in 'an overnight stay,' 'overnight delivery,' or 'an overnight success.' In these cases it describes something lasting one night or happening very suddenly.
What is an 'overnight success'?
An 'overnight success' is a person or thing that becomes popular or successful very rapidly, seemingly out of nowhere. The phrase is often used ironically, since such 'sudden' success frequently follows years of unseen effort.