overcast

1 of 3

verb

over·​cast

overcast; overcasting

transitive verb

1

ˌō-vər-ˈkast  ˈō-vər-ˌkast  : darken, overshadow

2

ˈō-vər-ˌkast  : to sew (raw edges of a seam) with long slanting widely spaced stitches to prevent raveling

overcast

2 of 3

adjective

over·​cast ˈō-vər-ˌkast  ˌō-vər-ˈkast 

: clouded over

an overcast day

overcast

3 of 3

noun

over·​cast ˈō-vər-ˌkast 

: covering

especially : a covering of clouds over the sky

Synonyms

Verb

• becloud
• bedim
• befog
• blacken
• blear
• blur
• cloud
• darken
• dim
• dislimn
• fog
• fuzz (up)
• haze
• mist
• obscure
• overcloud
• overshadow
• shadow
• shroud

Adjective

• beclouded
• clouded
• cloudy
• dull
• hazed
• hazy
• heavy
• lowering
• louring
• overclouded

Examples of overcast in a Sentence

Verb

an impenetrable fog overcast our view of the harbor

Adjective

It was an overcast morning.

They worked in overcast conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The past year has seen an existential mood overcast the rap world as its commercial dominance appears to be on its last leg. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2023

Sky conditions oscillate between partly cloudy to perhaps overcast at times. —Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1536, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing overcast

• overcast stitch

Kids Definition

overcast

1 of 3 verb

over·​cast

overcast; overcasting

1

ˌō-vər-ˈkast,

ˈō-vər-ˌkast

: darken sense 1, overshadow

2

ˈō-vər-ˌkast

: to sew with stitches that prevent the material at the edge of a seam from coming apart

overcast

2 of 3 adjective

over·​cast ˌō-vər-ˈkast 

ˌō-vər-ˈkast

: clouded over : gloomy

an overcast night

overcast

3 of 3 noun

over·​cast ˈō-vər-ˌkast 

: covering

especially : a covering of clouds over the sky