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overnight

Etymology and origin of the English word overnight

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
c. 1300

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /əʊvə(ɹ)ˈnaɪt/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from over and night.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

At night, during the night: about 1300 in Etymonline;[2] on the evening before, about 1374 in the OED.[5]

Semantic evolution

Through the night until morning is from 1535.[5] As a noun, the preceding evening is from 1581, now chiefly American.[5] The adjective, done or lasting for one night, is from the 19th century (1824 in MWU),[3] and the meaning in the course of a single night, suddenly, as in an overnight success, is from 1939.[2][5] A stop for one night is from 1959, and the verb, to stay the night, is from the late 19th century (1891 in MWU).[5][3]

Timeline

  • c. 1300 – during the night.[2]
  • 1581 – the previous evening.[5]
  • 1824 – the adjective.[3]
  • 1939 – suddenly.[2][5]
  • 1959 – a one-night stay.[5]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. During or through the night.
  2. Very quickly or suddenly.

Adjective

  1. Lasting, happening or used for one night: an overnight bag.
  2. Sudden: an overnight success.

Verb

  1. To stay for the night.

Word family

  • overnighter
  • overnight bag

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Overnight.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/overnight. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·