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

Financial and administrative errors are much easier to correct; an erroneous bill usually won’t cause more than a mere process overhead. —Kali Durgampudi, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Also overhead was a mention of silencers and one machine gun. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Consider pruning a few limbs from overhead trees to allow more sunlight to penetrate. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024

The push underscores the severity of overhead threats Israel faces. —Colin Demarest, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024

Noun

As a Ukrainian drone watched from overhead, dozens of Russians gathered in broad daylight on a clear day. —David Axe, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

As spectators spotted Trump’s plane overhead, cellphones popped into the air. —Adriana Gomez Licon, Fortune, 5 Oct. 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