overhead

1 of 3

adverb

over·​head ˌō-vər-ˈhed 

: above one's head : aloft

overhead

2 of 3

adjective

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

overhead

3 of 3

noun

over·​head ˈō-vər-ˌhed 

1

: business expenses (such as rent, insurance, or heating) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product

2

: ceiling

especially : the ceiling of a ship's compartment

3

: a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash

Synonyms

Adverb

• above
• aloft
• over

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

Adverb

Residents in Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, and California, have also reported seeing drones flying overhead, raising concerns about security threats and speculation of foreign involvement. —Natalie Venegas, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Still, mounting concern and speculation about drones has prompted a dramatic spike in the number of people pointing lasers at airplanes flying overhead, the FAA said. —Joel Rose, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024

Adjective

But an overhead catenary costs that much for a quarter mile [0.4 kilometer] of the track. —IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2024

Enterprises are increasingly faced with a trend of cloud providers passing along their soaring overhead costs. —Chris McHenry, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

Hybrid events—such as hosting a viewing of a major entertainment artist’s concert or a live sporting event in local theaters—can also offer communal experiences at lower costs, allowing for greater audience reach without the significant overhead of full-scale productions. —Jana Arbanas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Don’t forget to look up: The fish swimming overhead were actually recorded in Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overhead

• overhead projector

Kids 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