overall

1 of 3

adverb

over·​all ˌō-vər-ˈȯl 

1

: all over sense 1

the pattern used overall

2

: from one end to the other

600 feet long overall

3

a

: in view of all the circumstances or conditions

overall, the sale was a success

b

: as a whole : generally

doesn't do as well overall

overall and in most of its detail the film has remarkable power

—Time

c

: with everyone or everything taken into account

was third overall in earnings

got 31 miles to the gallon overall

overall

2 of 3

noun

over·​all ˈō-vər-ˌȯl 

1

a

overalls ˈō-vər-ˌȯlz  plural, archaic : loose protective trousers worn over regular clothes

b

usually overalls : trousers of strong material usually with a bib and shoulder straps

2

chiefly British : a loose-fitting protective smock worn over regular clothing

Illustration of overall

• overall 1b

overall

3 of 3

adjective

over·​all ˌō-vər-ˈȯl  ˈō-vər-ˌȯl 

1

: including everything

2

: viewed as a whole : general

Synonyms

Adverb

• all around
• all told
• altogether
• collectedly
• collectively
• inclusively
• together

Adjective

• across-the-board
• blanket
• broad-brush
• common
• general
• generic
• global
• universal

Examples of overall in a Sentence

Adverb

He made a few mistakes but did well overall.

Overall, the project was successful.

Adjective

your overall score after two rounds

His mistake didn't change my overall impression of him.

Your overall health is sound.

She likes the overall quality of the product.

The scratch didn't affect the car's overall appearance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

By January, its shares had dropped to their lowest point since the company’s listing in 1972; overall, the stock has halved since net worths were last measured a year ago. —Zinnia Lee, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

The Health Resources and Services Administration tracks the system overall. —Brian M. Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Noun

The period drama came in at a stunning second overall among live-action movies on Brazil’s 2024 box office chart, ahead of much more muscular Hollywood fare like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Dune: Part Two. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025

SpaceX will try for another Super Heavy chopsticks catch — its third overall, if successful — and Ship will attempt to deploy mock Starlink satellites on its suborbital trajectory (but four this time, not 10). —Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Even with recent gains, Black Americans are still outnumbered 12 to 1 by white people in executive roles – a gap seven times wider than found in the overall workforce at those companies. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025

Although the overall aim is to reach circa 200 stores before 2030, Li says that exact numbers are difficult to project, given the wide range of macro-factors impacting international retail and the fact that the company is introducing a new company to overseas markets. —Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overall

• the overall scheme of things

Rhymes for overall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

overall

1 of 2 adverb

over·​all ˌō-və-ˈrȯl 

: as a whole : generally

we find your work satisfactory, overall

overall

2 of 2 adjective

ˌō-və-ˈrȯl,

ˈō-və-ˌrȯl

1

: including everything

overall expenses

2

: viewed as a whole : general