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
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
James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2025
While agentic architectures can be built from scratch, utilizing an open-source framework helps reduce development overhead and ensures system maintainability.
—Rick Kelly, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025
Administration officials have defended capping NIH funding for universities' overhead costs, saying billions of funds could be reallocated to direct project costs.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Lucie Lapovsky, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
To that end, slashing administrative overhead through AI automation can free up resources that should be redirected to maintain and even grow faculty numbers.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhead
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Adverb
That’s despite their performing in venues such as a soup kitchen and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, which significantly reduced overhead.
—James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2025
While agentic architectures can be built from scratch, utilizing an open-source framework helps reduce development overhead and ensures system maintainability.
—Rick Kelly, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025
Administration officials have defended capping NIH funding for universities' overhead costs, saying billions of funds could be reallocated to direct project costs.
—Tina Reed, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
This will leave institutions with fewer funds to support their overhead which will need to be reduced; this type of reduction can’t happen overnight especially where facilities support is concerned.
—Lucie Lapovsky, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
To that end, slashing administrative overhead through AI automation can free up resources that should be redirected to maintain and even grow faculty numbers.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 1 Apr. 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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