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overnight

overnight

201 2.0
Very quickly, in a short time
  • adverb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈnaɪt/
translation icon : de la noche a la mañana
  • The dinosaurs ruled our planet for millions of years, and yet they died out almost overnight.
  • almost overnight
  • virtually overnight
  • become a millionaire overnight

And like that, like overnight, that show hit.

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Examples

  • Fortunes were made overnight, new wealth overnight.

  • Once the wall came down, almost half of them disappeared overnight.

  • And like that, like overnight, that show hit.

  • And just like that, overnight, we're here.

  • A billion dollars for our country overnight.

  • Overnight, I become the big boss.

  • Also overnight Joe Biden pulled ahead in the state of Georgia.

  • It's like he's changed overnight.

  • Overnight, all the good things I had ever done in my life evaporated.

  • After years of struggle, she became a successful author almost overnight when her novel topped the bestseller list.

Synonyms

quickly
vsovernight
1.0

At a fast speed or without delay

is a direct expression of speed but less idiomatic
immediately
vsovernight
1.0

At once without waiting

means very quick action but not strictly instantaneous
rapidly
vsovernight
446 1.4

In a very short time

shares speed but may sound more formal or technical
instantly
vsovernight
330 1.0

Right away without any delay

means very fast but can allow a tiny short interval
in no time
vsovernight
174 1.3

Very quickly, in a short time

focuses on great speed rather than the shortness alone
swiftly
vsovernight
84 1.0

Quickly and smoothly

emphasizes speed but not the smooth, continuous motion aspect
in the blink of an eye
vsovernight
  • Informal
50 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

describes great speed but not necessarily that suddenness
in a flash
vsovernight
  • Informal
35 2.5

Very quickly in a single moment

is equally fast but may lack the sudden visual image
instantaneously
vsovernight
25 5.6

Happen at once without delay

is about very quick change but less about absolute immediacy
in short order
vsovernight
13 3.5

Very quickly without delay

refers to speed but not necessarily to ordered steps
in a snap
vsovernight
  • Informal
3 3.0

It happens very quickly with little effort

focuses on speed but does not stress ease of action
in nothing flat
vsovernight
  • Archaic
1 7.0

In a very short time

expresses the same rapidity but more neutral in tone
nothing flat
vsovernight
  • Informal
1 8.5

Very quickly without delay

captures rapid change but is slightly more general in use
in the bat of an eye
vsovernight
  • Informal
5.1

Very quickly, in almost no time

means very fast while allowing a slightly broader time sense
in jig time
vsovernight
  • Archaic
7.9

In a very short time

means rapid action but is less idiomatic and vivid

Antonyms

1.0

At a low speed without hurrying

273 1.9

Slowly and steadily over time

Compounds

11 2.8

A small bag for clothes and things you need for one night

A small bag for clothes and items for one night's trip

A person or thing that becomes very famous very quickly

How Quickly

immediately
1.0
overnight
201 2.0
rapidly
446 1.4
quickly
1.0
shortly
621 1.0
soon
1.0

Surface Forms

overnight positive

Morphology

overnight = night (semi-transparent) = over + night

The suddenness meaning 'very quickly' is a metaphorical extension from 'during the night' and is not strictly literal. [Postprocessing: moved 'over' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Overnight A helpful way to remember the 'very quickly' sense of overnight is to think of something changing 'over the night' so it is new by morning; that's why we say something happened 'overnight' when it changed very fast.