over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed 
1
a
: operating, lying, or coming from above
b
: having the driving part above the part driven
valves operated by an overhead camshaft
2
: of or relating to overhead
overhead costs
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
Synonyms
Examples of overhead in a Sentence
Adverb
A chandelier hung directly overhead.
People were making noise in the balcony overhead.
Noun
Her company has very little overhead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Feb. 2025
Outside Los Angeles City Hall, the whir of helicopters overhead was drowned out by a cacophony of bullhorns and fiery chanting.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2025
The small shop also does not have a large staff, allowing Perez to keep his overhead low.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
The movie’s very first shot, beautiful yet full of foreboding, finds her swimming in the Atlantic, her peace momentarily disturbed by the roar of a military helicopter overhead.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhead 
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Adverb
During the segment, footage of the NFL football players and American flag on the field, U.S. Corps standing at attention elsewhere, and U.S. Marine Corps flying overhead also aired onscreen.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Feb. 2025
Outside Los Angeles City Hall, the whir of helicopters overhead was drowned out by a cacophony of bullhorns and fiery chanting.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Action will ‘reduce overhead costs’ CT aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney planning layoffs.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2025
The small shop also does not have a large staff, allowing Perez to keep his overhead low.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
Combining the powers of several brewers and labels helps save on rising costs and allows prospective brewers to dip their toe into the scene with low overhead.
—Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
The movie’s very first shot, beautiful yet full of foreboding, finds her swimming in the Atlantic, her peace momentarily disturbed by the roar of a military helicopter overhead.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhead
Dictionary Entries Near overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overhead
1 of 3 adverb
over·head
ˌō-vər-ˈhed
: above one's head : aloft
geese flying overhead
overhead
2 of 3 adjective
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: operating or lying above
an overhead door
2
: of or relating to business expense
overhead
3 of 3 noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: general business expenses (as rent, heat, or insurance)
2
: a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash
Legal Definition
overhead
noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
: business expenses (as rent or insurance) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product
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