all-nighter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “all-nighter” mean?
An event or activity that lasts the entire night, especially one spent working or studying without sleep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An event or activity that lasts the entire night, especially one spent working or studying without sleep.
Can refer to any sustained, intensive effort that continues through the night, such as a work project, a social gathering, or a gaming session.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood in both varieties. There is no significant difference in meaning or form.
Connotations
Equally informal in both regions. Often associated with student culture and deadline-driven work.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “all-nighter” in a Sentence
pull + an + all-nighterhave + an + all-nighterdo + an + all-nighterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all-nighter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The verb form is 'to pull an all-nighter'.
- We'll need to pull an all-nighter to finish the report.
American English
- N/A - The verb form is 'to pull an all-nighter'.
- I had to pull an all-nighter to get the presentation done.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It turned into an all-nighter revision session.
- He's in an all-nighter mood for this coding project.
American English
- That was an all-nighter study group.
- We're planning an all-nighter pizza and movie marathon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The team pulled an all-nighter to get the proposal ready for the morning meeting." Used informally to describe urgent deadline work.
Academic
"It's a bad habit, but I always end up pulling an all-nighter before my philosophy exams." Very common in student discourse.
Everyday
"We had a proper all-nighter playing that new board game and didn't get to bed until sunrise." Can refer to social or recreational activities.
Technical
Not typically used in formal technical writing; replaced by phrases like 'overnight operation' or 'continuous monitoring period'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all-nighter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “all-nighter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all-nighter”
- Using it as a verb directly (e.g., 'I all-nighted' is incorrect; use 'pulled an all-nighter').
- Spelling: 'allnighter' or 'all-nighter'? The hyphenated form is standard.
- Confusing with 'night owl' (a person who stays up late habitually).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not directly. You must use the phrase 'pull an all-nighter'. For example, 'I pulled an all-nighter' is correct; 'I all-nighted' is not.
No, while most commonly associated with work or study, it can refer to any activity that lasts all night, like a party or a gaming session.
'Burning the midnight oil' emphasizes working late into the night, but not necessarily all night. An 'all-nighter' explicitly means continuing until morning without sleep.
Yes, the standard spelling is with a hyphen: 'all-nighter'.
An event or activity that lasts the entire night, especially one spent working or studying without sleep.
All-nighter is usually informal, colloquial in register.
All-nighter: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈnaɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈnaɪt̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pull an all-nighter”
- “Burn the midnight oil (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LIGHT that stays on ALL NIGHT. An 'all-NIGHTER' is when YOU stay 'on' and active all night.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE / ENDURANCE IS A MARATHON. The night is a container to be filled with continuous effort.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common and idiomatic verb used with 'all-nighter'?