Staying awake, usually with the aid of caffeine and cold showers, for over 24 hours. Usually a feat performed by overworked students, but also by physicians and programmers, and other individuals who refuse to sleep until having solved some mystery.

An all-nighter is NOT simply staying up until the sun rises, then sleeping.
Jennifer felt like a zombie after having pulled two all nighters in a row during midterms week. "Really, it's not that bad after the 40th hour or so," she said, "...once you get past the hallucinations and the funny twitching thing your legs do."
by MC Raine April 1, 2007
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pulling an all nighter is commonly believed to be when you sat up until the sun rises doing homework then sleep in the morning. it is not. pulling an all nighter is when you stay awake for any reason whatsoever all night (give or take one hour) and continue into the next day.

Once I pulled an all nighter that lasted over 48 hours. I pulled one last night because I had a friend over. She passed out at 7 am.

REASONS TO PULL AN ALL NIGHTER:
• studying
• your schedule is so busy you get home from classes at 9 (my case at age 12) and have to do hw
• you're an insomniac
partyyyy!!
• other

IF U R PLANNING ON PULLING AN ALL NIGHTER:
♥ turn on the A\C or open a window
♥ play loudish music with a fast beat (Lady GaGa and the Ting Tings are goood options)
♥ Don't wear your pjs
♥ don't eat sugar. sugar crashes suck.
♥ drink caffiene
♥ splash face with water
♥ keep all lights on
♥ try and keep a vibe going with would you rathers, truth or dares, movies, dancing (in the case of a party or a sleepover)
In seventh grade I was trying so hard not to fail my spanish tests that I pulled a 48+ hour all nighter. I still failed.
by .:*cure96*:. June 7, 2009
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Ditching sleep to spend several more hours cramming for tests, only to notice that you've drooled on your desk in front of the class the next day.
I pulled an all-nighter to study and ended up in the wrong class twice.
by Pro January 20, 2005
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A study or work session that goes through the night; studying without sleep (usually a last-minute course of action).

The term is popular with college students who spend the night before an exam studying (or 'cramming'), trying to learn a lot of material in a short period of time. The term is frequently used in the phrase 'pull an all-nighter'.
1) We pulled an all-nighter to finish the report.

2) I pulled an all-nighter to study for my math exam.
by VAKI5 May 10, 2005
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When you stay up all night for any purpose, to hang out, have sex, study, go online, drive, or any other activity
"We pulled an all-nighter in town last summer"
by Lila December 30, 2004
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Remaining awake and actively engaged in some activity during nocturnal hours. The type of activity will differ and the typical person is usuall between 17-40 years old
"Did you study for the biochem final?"

"Totally---I was able to buy the book for the class yesterday and I pulled an "all nighter."
by MintyLeila July 23, 2005
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